A fierce battle is underway between security forces and Maoist rebels in the west of Nepal after two rebel attacks in as many days left more than 100 people dead.

The government is reviewing the security situation and will plug any gaps

Spokesman Achhyut Wagle

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Devendra Raj Kadel, told the BBC government forces had engaged the rebels in Agarkhanchi district, where the Maoists launched a major assault.

Fighting was still going on, he said, with no accurate information as yet about casualties.

On Sunday, as many as 4,000 rebels were reported to have taken part in an attack on the town of Sandikharka, 300 km (185 miles) south-west of the capital Kathmandu.

Fifty-eight people, nearly all security personnel, died in the rebel assault, according to government figures.

Officials said communcations with the area were lost, but that reinforcements were sent in by helicopters.

The attack on the garrison of about 200 security personnel came shortly after hundreds of rebels attacked a police post in eastern Nepal, killing about 50 policemen.

Potent force

Despite the attacks, the government says it is determined to take the necessary security measures and hold parliamentary elections in November as planned.

Heavy rain and poor transport facilities are hampering search and rescue missions by security personnel.

Officials say that so far, only two bodies of rebels have been recovered in Sandikharkha.

However, Achhyut Wagle, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's spokesman, told BBC News Online that the security forces had recovered the bodies of 30 policemen, 15 soldiers and 9 members of the armed police force at Sandikharka.

When asked about rebel casualties, he said communications with the garrison were in a very poor state, and because of the heavy rains in the area, information was coming in very slowly.

But despite these setbacks to the ongoing anti-Maoist operations, there was no possibility of any changes to the government's plans to hold elections, he said.

Mr Wagle added: "The government is reviewing the security situation and will plug any gaps."

Correspondents say that security has been tight despite the recent withdrawal of a state of emergency, but bomb attacks in the capital and assaults on security forces elsewhere suggest the rebels are still a potent force.

Four-hour assault

Security sources estimated that up to 4,000 rebels could have been involved in the attack on Sandikharka.

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"It is a pretty big attack," said Junior Home Minister Devendra Raj Kandel.

"Several government buildings are on fire and we are trying to send in reinforcements."

State radio said that the attack began at 2200 (1615 GMT) on Sunday and lasted for four hours.

Communications with the town were cut at midnight.

Correspondents say army and police helicopters have evacuated more than 20 wounded security personnel to hospitals in the area and in Kathmandu.

The Maoist rebels have been campaigning to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist republic and over 4,000 people have been killed in six years of violence.