Acehnese rebels released to mark independence day

Hundreds of Acehnese rebels will be released from prison today to mark Indonesia’s independence day, officials said, including some who had the chance to escape during the December 26 tsunami, but instead turned themselves in.

Nearly 1,500 Free Aceh Movement rebels will be freed later this month as part of an accord signed between the government and separatist rebels in Finland on Monday to end three decades of fighting.