Nepalese authorities say at least five policemen were killed and another six wounded when Maoist rebels attacked their vehicle.
Officials say the ambush occurred early today (Sunday) on a highway in southwestern Nepal, and that the injured were being treated at a local hospital.
Maoist rebels have been fighting since 1996 to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist state. So far, the conflict has claimed more than 10,000 lives.
Violence has escalated ahead of a January 13th deadline set by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for the Maoists to resume peace talks.