JP/3/across

Governor to take mayor's job

PADANG: West Sumatra Governor Zainal Bakar will take over on Monday the responsibilities of Payakumbuh mayor from Darlis Ilyas, whose has been inactive since March due to a graft case in which he is implicated.

The official transfer of duty will take place on Monday despite the absence of Darlis, who has claimed that he continues as authorized mayor until the court has announced its verdict.

Zainal will appoint Yusrizal Baharin, assistant to the provincial secretary for administrative affairs, to run the day- to-day duties of the municipality.

"There is no reason to delay the ceremony despite the absence of Darlis Ilyas. His absence will not affect the transfer of duty," assistant to the provincial secretary for development affairs Rusdi Lubis was quoted by Antara as saying.

The transfer of duty was arranged following the home affairs minister's decree dated March 10, which approves Darlis' dismissal.

Darlis claimed not to have received the ministerial decree, although Rusli said the provincial administration had forwarded it to him. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Across- Aceh-violence

JP/3/

Rebels shoot Marine in Aceh

BANDA ACEH: The latest gunfight between security troops and armed Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels over the weekend left a Marine Corps officer wounded.

Spokesman for the Aceh security operation command Maj. Zaenal Mutaqin said on Saturday that First Lt. Martin Luther Ginting had sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach during an exchange of fire that had followed a military search of a GAM base in Matang Guruh village in North Aceh, some 330 kilometers east of here.

Zainal told Antara that Martin had been admitted to a military hospital in Lhokseumawe, the capital of North Aceh. -- Antara