Leftist rebels killed at least 21 soldiers in fighting Wednesday at a telecommunications tower, the state-run Radio Nepal said. The rebels attacked soldiers guarding the tower about midnight and fighting continued until morning, the report said. One rebel also was killed in the fighting at Bhojpur, about 250 miles east of Nepal's capital, Katmandu. Officials in the area could not be contacted on the phone. The rebels say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and have been fighting since February 1996 to replace Nepal's monarchy with a communist state. The eight-year insurgency has claimed more than 8,500 lives. Fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated since the insurgents withdrew from a cease-fire in August. The rebels walked out of peace talks and resumed attacks on government and civilian targets. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Nepalese Army soldiers check the identification of a cyclist near a government office in Katmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, March 2, 2004. (AP Photo/Binod Joshi)