Three rebels killed, 13 others arrested

BANDA ACEH: Government troops shot dead three suspected rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and captured 13 others in the latest conflict in the restive province of Aceh, the military said on Sunday.

The three were killed on Saturday during clashes between soldiers and GAM members, while thirteen other rebels were captured in four separate raids also on Saturday, Aceh military spokesman Lt. Col. Asep Sapari said.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) launched a major operation to crush GAM, which has been fighting for independence since 1976, in May 2003, after the collapse of a brief truce.

Military and police figures show that no less than 2,200 rebels have been killed since then. Human rights groups, however, have said that many of the dead are civilians. -- Antara