Indonesian govt reaches deal with rebels

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.

A draft peace deal submitted by the rebel Free Aceh Movement was approved yesterday by the government in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, said Indonesian Communications Minister Sofyan Djalil, one of the lead negotiators at peace talks in Finland.

The peace deal will facilitate the delivery of international reconstruction aid to the province of 4.1 million inhabitants which was severely damaged by the December 26 tsunami that killed at least 130,000 people.

Negotiators for the Indonesian government and separatist rebels said yesterday they had reached a tentative agreement to end one of the world's longest-running wars.

The draft accord, which hinged on an agreement to allow the separatist Free Aceh Movement to form its own political party, was sent to Jakarta for approval by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"The president has agreed to the draft submitted by GAM about political parties" Djalil said this morning, referring to the Free Aceh Movement by its Indonesian initials.

The two sides are scheduled to meet later in the day to initial the deal. It will be signed at a formal ceremony in the Finnish capital in mid-August.