More killed in Aceh clashes

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Banda Aceh
December 26, 2003

At least 14 people, including a military marine, have been killed in Indonesia's restive province of Aceh, the armed forces said yesterday.

Six rebels and one marine were killed during a clash in the marshy area of Bireun district on Wednesday.

Troops shot dead two rebels in East Aceh district on the same day and another guerilla during a clash in south-west Aceh yesterday, a military spokesman said. Lieutenant-Colonel Ahmad Yani Basuki said that on Tuesday a suspected member of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was shot dead during a raid in Bireun district around midnight.

The military says more than 2000 suspected rebels have been arrested or have surrendered and around 1200 others have been shot dead since May. It says about 300 civilians have also been killed but blames this on GAM.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/25/1072308628069.html