5 Nepalese soldiers killed in mine attack

"It was an accidental explosion due to a mine we had on the perimeter of the barracks," said the spokesman on condition of anonymity.

It was not immediately clear what set off the mine, the official said. The incident happened at a base in the district of Gulmi, some 250km west of the capital Kathmandu.

The army has been fighting a Maoist rebellion in Nepal, which started in 1996 and has left more than 12,500 people dead.

The Maoists said Thursday they were calling a ceasefire to encourage politicians to curtail King Gyanendra's power. Weeks of street protests forced him to relinquish his absolute powers and restore parliament.