KATHMANDU Suspected Maoist rebels shot dead 32 policemen and a civilian in a string of deadly attacks on security posts across Nepal on the eve of the new king's birthday, officials said on Saturday.

It was the worst violence in the troubled Himalayan kingdom since last month's massacre of almost the entire royal family by the crown prince who then shot himself.

A police told Reuters that 21 police officers were killed at Bichour in Lamjung, 150km (93 miles) west of Kathmandu while two police were gunned down at Wami Taxar in Gulmi in western Nepal.

He said a cook was also killed in Gulmi.

Officials said all three attacks were carried out late on Friday night by suspected members of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) which is fighting the Himalayan kingdom's constitutional monarchy.

Police said they were waiting for details of the overnight attack in Lamjung and Gulmi.

Nepal police also suspect the rebels of being behind a bomb explosion on Wednesday near the homes of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Chief Justice of Nepal's Supreme Court, Keshav Prasad Updhyaya, who headed last month's investigation into the palace killings.

Maoist rebels have stepped up their violent campaign to topple the constitutional monarchy in the wake of the last month's massacre. Saturday is new King Gyanendra's 55th birthday.

The Maoist rebels model themselves on the Shining Path guerrillas of Peru and launch hit and run attacks at police posts at night.