Nine people were injured in the latest bomb blast to shake Nepal's capital while suspected Maoist guerrillas freed 20 prisoners, all believed to be rebels, in a daring jail-break.
The crude device, found on the main road to Kathmandu's airport ahead of the return of Nepal's prime minister from a visit to India, went off as security forces tried to defuse it.
Three security officials and a TV journalist filming the scene were among those injured by the rigged liquid petroleum gas cylinder which was placed on a bridge, a police spokesman said, adding that Maoist rebels were suspected in the attack.
In a separate incident, Maoists bombed a jail and freed 20 inmates, all thought to be rebels, a prison official said Sunday.
The bomb caused a large hole in the wall of the prison in the town of Mahendra Nagar, allowing 20 inmates of one cell to escape, a Department of Central Prison Management official told AFP.
"There were 140 inmates in the jail but the prisoners of only one cell could escape," the official said, adding an inquiry was underway. "The 20 missing inmates are believed to be Maoist activists and it seems it was the rebels' plan to break into jail to free them," the official said.
Indian forces were put on full alert in the border region of Champawat after the jail-break.
"We have mobilised our paramilitary troops and special forces to seal off the border with Nepal," area police chief R.S. Nayal told AFP by telephone from Champawat in the northern Indian state of Uttaranchal Pradesh.
The official said the precaution follows last week's arrest of about half-a-dozen Nepalese guerrillas in Champawat.
Nepal has tightened security at US and other diplomatic missions in the capital after suspected Maoist rebels bombed the American cultural centre on Friday, causing damage but no casualties.
Meanwhile according to a joint statement issued in New Delhi.India and neighbouring Nepala are to intensify efforts to combat terrorism in the region and broaden bilateral economic cooperation.
"The prime ministers reiterated the determination of the two countries in combating the scourge of terrorism," said the statement, released at the end of a five-day visit to India by Nepalese Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reassured the support of ... India for further strengthening of Nepal's security forces including the Nepal police," it said.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/09/14/wor02.html)
