Dozens of bloated bodies littered the streets of Banda Aceh city today as soldiers and volunteers searched for survivors of an earthquake and tidal waves that killed more than 5,000 people in Indonesia.

Dozens of bloated bodies littered the streets of Indonesia’s Banda Aceh city today as soldiers and desperate relatives searched for survivors of an earthquake and tidal waves that killed at least 4,491 people.

TIDAL waves swamped towns in northwestern Indonesia close to the epicentre of yesterday’s massive undersea earthquake, killing at least 4,185 people and leaving corpses wedged in trees as waters receded, the health ministry and witnesses said.

TOWNS nearest the epicentre of yesterday’s massive earthquake were levelled by tidal waves, killing at least 4,185 people and leaving bodies wedged in trees as the waters receded, officials and witnesses said.

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

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

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

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