A bus carrying junior high school students and their teachers plunged into a ravine on Indonesia's main island of Java today, leaving 14 dead and 48 in hospital - some in critical condition - police said.

Indonesia’s official earthquake and tsunami death toll jumped by more than 4,000 today to 98,489, the government said – correcting a toll of 113,306 it issued earlier.

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

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.