At least 24 Maoists and three security personnel were killed in clashes in various parts of Nepal on Sunday.

Security forces gunned down at least 16 Maoists at Pandaun area of Kailali district, 650 km west of Kathmandu, army sources said.

They were killed during an operation using helicopters and ground forces.

More Maoists might have been killed during the battle, which started last midnight, but only 16 bodies were found, the sources said.

One rebel each was killed in Solukhumbu, Rautahat, Bardia, Dhanusha and Dhading districts, the sources said.

In Lekhnath municipality of Kaski district, three Maoists were killed, the sources added.

Two army personnel were killed in a blast triggered by Maoists at Ghariban area of Surkhet district, and in a separate incident on soldier was shot dead in Bakular area of Chitawan district, they said.

The clashes were the fiercest since the ending on October 28 of a nine-day temporary truce between the Maoist and government forces to allow people to celebrate the festival of Dashain.