Nepal ends hunt for climbers missing in avalanche

KATHMANDU (AFP) - Nepalese rescuers on Thursday called off a search for three climbers who have been missing since a huge avalanche that killed eight mountaineers at the weekend, presuming them dead.

The two French mountaineers and a Canadian disappeared after their group was hit by a wall of snow near the 8,156m Himalayan peak Manaslu in the early hours of Sunday.

"We have come to an end of the search operation. A team of five sherpas were involved in the operation. But despite their best efforts, they were unable to find them," a police official.

"They are presumed dead, but the French embassy have told us they may continue a private search."