The army is getting funds for more equipment

Members of parliament have been accusing ministers of mishandling the first three months of the emergency and ignoring warnings that a big Maoist attack was imminent.

Nonetheless, parliamentary approval of the emergency is expected, if only because there is little alternative.

The Maoist raids in Achham have plunged the country into fear and uncertainty.

The rebels have called for a two-day general strike beginning on Friday, and the possibility of more attacks or civil unrest during that time cannot be ruled out.

Military challenge

The government says it is determined to keep the pressure up on the Maoists, ordering the army to follow a more offensive strategy in its deployments.

Officials say tens of millions of dollars will be added to the defence budget to help anti-insurgency measures.

That could mean new weapons, or perhaps more helicopters to speed up troop movements.

But what other concrete steps could be taken to strengthen the campaign against the Maoists is not clear.

The army has not faced a military challenge this serious in living memory, and its opponents the Maoists have shown themselves to be skilled and deadly guerrilla fighters.

A negotiated settlement to the crisis may be the only way to avoid years of insurgency and violence, but the government has ruled out peace talks until the rebels lay down their arms.