Katmandu, Nepal ? Communist insurgents killed at least 40 soldiers in fierce clashes between the military and Maoist rebels in the country’s remote, mountainous northeast over the past couple of days, Nepal’s army said in a statement Tuesday.

The soldiers, among about 200 troops at an army base camp that came under attack Sunday night, appeared to have been lined up and shot in the head execution-style, the Royal Nepalese Army said.

“The terrorists lined up 40 soldiers who had been captured and shot them on the head and cut off parts of their bodies,” the army statement said.

The fighting – the fiercest between the two sides this year – continued through Monday morning. Rebels said 26 of their fighters were killed.