Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has departed Kathmandu for the United States, seeking support from the Bush administration for his government's fight against Maoist rebels. 

Mr. Deuba is set to meet U.S. President George W. Bush Tuesday at the White House, as Nepali government forces inside the Himalayan kingdom press their offensive against rebel targets. 

Mr. Deuba did not disclose to reporters details of his planned White House talks, before departing Nepal's capital Sunday. But earlier this year, the Bush administration asked Congress to authorize $20 million in military aid to the Kathmandu government as it seeks to crush the rebellion. 

The Deuba mission comes amid government claims that troops have killed more than 400 rebels in what is seen as the most successful government military campaign of the six-year war. 

The government says most of the deaths occurred Friday and Saturday, when security forces attacked a camp in western Nepal where about 800 rebels were undergoing training. 

Last week rebels, who broke off peace talks last November, said they were ready to resume negotiations aimed at ending their rebellion. But Mr. Deuba rejected the offer, saying he will not talk to the Maoists until they surrender their weapons. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP.

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