At least seven security personnel and dozens of anti-government guerrillas were killed in clashes between them Monday evening in Nepal's far-western district of Kailali, the army said Tuesday.

The gunfight started at around 4:30 p.m. local time (1045GMT) after patrolling government troops came under attack from the guerrillas at Masuriya jungle, over 700 km west of Kathmandu, and lasted till 8 p.m. (1415GMT), an army officer said on condition of anonymity.

"Acting on a tip-off saying over 2,000 rebels were taking shelter inside the jungle, the troops had launched search operation there," he said, adding that a dozen security personnel were injured in the four-hour-long gunbattle.

Security forces also resorted to aerial operation using helicopters during the clashes, he added.

Source: Xinhua