Nepal rebels hide behind human shields

The Maoist rebels have shot down an army helicopter and injured 3 soldiers

KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Maoist rebels in Nepal have thrown a human shield of women and children around their 70 police hostages.

Troops had closed in on the kidnappers in the mountainous Rolpa district of west Nepal but were ordered to exercise maximum restraint and avoid bloodshed.

The Maoists stepped up a violent campaign to topple Nepal's constitutional monarchy after the massacre of nearly all of the royal family on June 1.

Communist Party of Nepal rebels have been seeking to set up a one-party communist republic since early 1996.

The Maoist group says it is ready to free the captives if the government releases jailed members of the group. Officials have rejected the offer.

Army mobilized

The police were captured last Thursday when the rebels raided a security post in the remote Himalayan foothills of west Nepal.

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"The security personnel have exercised patience to avoid the loss of life and property as far as possible as the Maoists have used women and children as a human shield," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The decision to send in troops marks the first time the government has mobilized the army against the rebels.

Dozens of police have been killed in the past few weeks by the rebels who draw inspiration from Peru's Shining Path guerrillas and specialize in hit-and-run attacks on poorly armed police posts.

The violence has so far claimed about 1,750 lives, including rebels, policemen and civilians.

Reuters contributed to this report.