Six people taken hostage in Aceh

EAST ACEH, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: At least six people were reported to have been taken hostage by the armed wing of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels group at dawn on Thursday.

The people were passengers of a bus leaving from North Sumatra for the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.

The incident took place around the Aluebu Tuha Mosque in Peureulak, East Aceh regency.

Local military spokesman Lt. Col. Asep Sapari said three of the abducted people were identified as Korem Nababan, Jerami and Dodi Situmorang.

GAM spokesman Cut Kafrawi, however, denied the accusation, saying that the location was tightly guarded by the troops.

About 60 civilians have disappeared since the government imposed a civil emergency status in May. -- JP