More people killed in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: At least two people were killed and seven others injured in three separate armed conflicts on Sunday, an officer and a rebel said on Monday.

Spokesman for the Banda Aceh Military District Command, Maj. Edi Sulistiadi, said the first incident took place in Seumira village, some 25 kilometers east of here, during which a member of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was shot dead and four others were injured and arrested.

In the East Aceh village of Aramiah, an officer of the National Police's Mobile Brigade, Second Brig. Rudi Sitompul, was killed when he and his company were engaged in a gunfight with armed rebels, Second Insp. Basri said, adding that four other police officers were wounded in the clash.

Separately in Sigli, the capital of Pidie regency, a bomb went off inside a cafeteria, which was located in front of the office compound of the Pidie regent. A resident was wounded in the incident.

A spokesman for GAM in the Pidie area, Abu Razak, said his group was responsible for the explosion.

The rebels and security personnel have been engaged in prolonged armed clashes for several decades, and in this year alone more than 1,000 people have been killed. (50/emf)