Indonesia aims for September Aceh troop pull-out
Indonesia has announced it will start the withdrawal of some of its troops from tsunami-devastated Aceh province in September, following the unveiling of a draft peace deal to end three decades of conflict with rebels.
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels say at least 10 people have died in fighting between its forces and the Government since negotiators in Helsinki announced the peace deal at the weekend.
Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin says the Government will scale down its troops in Aceh between mid-September and December 31.
He says the non-local units will be withdrawn in conjunction with the collection and destruction of GAM weapons.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced the plan to scale down forces on Sunday.
A statement from GAM military wing spokesman Sofyan Dawood late on Tuesday said there were three exchanges of fire in Aceh on Monday, resulting in the deaths of five GAM fighters, three government soldiers and two civilians.
An Indonesian military (TNI) official said there were only two clashes, in which four GAM fighters and one TNI soldier were killed and two TNI soldiers wounded.
The peace agreement announced on Sunday in Helsinki is due to be signed on August 15. (Reuters/IM)
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