LEAD: Most known victims of Nepal's avalanche were European citizens

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   Kathmandu (dpa) – Most of the climbers known to have died in an avalanche on Nepal’s Mount Manaslu were European citizens, police said Monday, with one figure placing the number of dead at 12.

   “Among the dead were a German, a Spaniard, four Frenchmen, an Italian and a Nepali,” said police officer Anit Thapa. He said five people had been rescued and airlifted to Kathmandu hospitals but did not disclose their nationalities.

   "The nationalities of those missing are yet to be identified," Thapa said.
  
   The death toll and the number of missing from Sunday’s avalanche on the world's eighth highest mountain, were conflicting.

   Government figures said eight people were confirmed dead, while the Nepal Mountaineering Association said 12 people had died.

  "Exact details are still hard to confirm because we have received different figures from different sources," said Zimba Jangbu Sherpa, president of the association.

   "Five people are missing, according to the information we have," he added.

   The avalanche struck at a height of around 7,000 metres, as climbers were preparing to set off for the summit.
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