KATHMANDU, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 16 anti-government guerrillas were killed Wednesday in a gun-battle with the security forces in Nepal's mid-western district of Rukum, the Royal Nepalese Army said Thursday.

    The skirmish took place 5 km north of Khara area in the district, some 500 km west of Kathmandu, an army official said on condition of anonymity.

    Last Wednesday, the guerrillas had suffered heavy losses in Khara area losing over 150 lives when thousands of guerrillas launched an offensive on the local security forces.

    More than 11,000 Nepalese people have lost their lives since the anti-government insurgency broke out in February 1996. Enditem