Indonesia and rebels to seal Aceh peace deal

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.

Spurred by the need to get reconstruction aid to the December 26 tsunami-ravaged region, the parties embarked on a seven-month peace process, culminating in the accord in Helsinki, under the mediation of former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari.