THE Indonesian government and Aceh rebels yesterday signed a peace treaty to end nearly 30 years of fighting that has seen 15,000 people killed, but rebel leaders voiced concern about troops remaining in the province.

The Indonesian government and Aceh rebels are poised to sign a peace treaty today, aimed at ending nearly 30 years of fighting in the oil and gas-rich province that has killed 15,000 people.

The Indonesian government said today it would start withdrawing troops from Aceh in September as part of an agreement with rebels to end three decades of fighting that has killed 15,000 people.

Indonesia's government and Aceh rebels have reached a peace deal to end the 29-year insurgency in the tsunami-devastated province, a top Indonesian official said today.

Indonesia’s offer of autonomy for tsunami-hit Aceh is on the table today for talks with rebel envoys in Finland, providing the best hope in years of ending the conflict which has threatened relief efforts in the area hit worst by the disaster.

JUSTICE is swift in Banda Aceh or so a story doing the rounds in the northern Indonesian city suggests.

Cindy Sui, Banda Aceh

Dan Eaton, Banda Aceh

Gunfire echoed through the main tsunami-hit city on Indonesia’s Sumatra island today, underscoring the threat to the scores of foreigners helping victims of the disaster that struck two weeks ago.

Government troops in Indonesia have shot and killed 12 suspected rebels and arrested eight others in the escalating war in Aceh province.

A grenade exploded at a gas field at ExxonMobil's Indonesian unit in the restive province of Aceh, the company reports.

A grenade buried in a sandpit killed two young sisters and badly wounded their brother in Indonesia’s war-torn Aceh province, a military spokesman said today.

INDONESIA has told foreign aid workers to leave troubled Aceh for security reasons and says Jakarta wants to take over all humanitarian assistance in the province.

INDONESIA plans to step up a military offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh a week after declaring martial law in the province and sending in thousands of troops.

Achmad Sukarsono, Banda Aceh

INDONESIA sent more paratroopers into Aceh yesterday in a massive offensive to destroy separatist rebels, while world leaders urged Jakarta to restart talks with the insurgents.

INDONESIAN planes launched rockets at a rebel base in Aceh province yesterday, signalling the start of a major military offensive.

THE Indonesian government and rebels from Aceh province yesterday signed a landmark accord to end the 26-year separatist war on the tip of Sumatra island.

Government troops have shot dead six suspected rebels in separate skirmishes in Indonesia's strife-ridden Aceh province.

The Indonesian army has killed the military leader of the Free Aceh Movement, a rebel army fighting for independence in Indonesia’s oil and gas-rich Aceh province since 1976.

Five people have been killed in the latest violence in Indonesia's Aceh province.

Rebels in Indonesia's Aceh province have set fire to a natural gas field in Lhoksukon belonging to American energy giant Exxon.

Thousands of Muslims have mobbed an Indonesian courthouse where three Christians have been sentenced to death for inciting a massacre.

Rebels in Indonesia's restive Aceh province have shot and killed a soldier despite a new peace agreement being signed earlier this week.