Nepal's government is facing pressure to resume talks with Maoist guerrillas after some of the deadliest violence of the conflict Thursday killed more than 160 people. 

A leading member of the opposition Communist party, Siddhi Lal Singh, is quoted as saying talks should begin even if the Maoists don't lay down their arms. 

However, Nepal's Information Minister, Jaya Prakash Gupta, has ruled out any dialogue unless the Maoists who broke a ceasefire in November follow what he called "the path for peace." 

The army has been aggressively pursing the Maoists in recent months. 

Devastating rebel rocket and bomb attacks on police posts in the western district of Dang this week killed nearly 100 policemen and several civilians. Some of the bodies were found beheaded or burned alive. 

Meanwhile, authorities found the bodies of at least 60 rebels, half-buried in several ditches, apparently dumped by retreating rebels. The death toll from the attacks has been rising steadily as more bodies are found. 

On Saturday, five civilians, including two children, were killed in two bomb explosions in northwestern Nepal blamed on the rebels. There was also fighting in which about 20 rebels were reported killed. 

More than 2,700 people have been killed since the Maoists launched their insurgency in 1996. Thursday's attacks were among the deadliest since the fighting began. The rebels are seeking to rid the country of its monarchy and implement a communist state. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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