Indonesia withdrawns last troops from Aceh province

Indonesia started pulling out the last of 24,000 troops from tsunami-ravaged Aceh province today, a key component of a peace accord to end a three-decade civil war with separatist rebels.

Some 3,350 soldiers carrying automatic rifles and heavy bags boarded four Navy ships in the port town of Lhokseumawe, just days after Free Aceh Movement rebels handed over their weapons and disbanded their military wing.