Troops kill 17 rebels in Aceh

Troops kill 17 rebels in Aceh

INDONESIA: The military said on Saturday soldiers killed 17
rebels in the latest clashes in Aceh province, where security
forces are waging an all-out offensive against separatist rebels.

The killings on Friday and Thursday were among the biggest
casualties suffered by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in two days
of clashes since the government launched the major offensive to
crush the rebels in May 2003.

Soldiers gunned down four GAM rebels in an encounter at Krueng
Sabe in Aceh Jaya district on Friday, said military operations
spokesman Ari Mulyana Asnawi.

Another three guerrillas were killed in a gunfight in South
Aceh district on the same day, Asnawi said.

Ten other guerillas were killed in separate clashes on
Thursday, he said.

Another military spokesman, Anang Murtiyoso, said gunmen
believed to be GAM rebels shot dead an elementary school
principal in South Aceh on Thursday night.

Rebel spokesmen could not be reached for comment. -- AFP