Jakarta angry at Aceh 'meddling'

Hundreds of combatants and civilians have been killed already

The Indonesian Government has hit back at criticism of its extension of martial law in troubled Aceh province.

A foreign ministry spokesman said a statement of concern issued by the United States, Japan and European Union was "leading to meddling".

The joint statement came after Jakarta extended martial law for six months, in a bid to suppress separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (Gam).

Hundreds of fighters and civilians have died since a crackdown began in May.

The decision to authorise an extension was made during a meeting between President Megawati Sukarnoputri and ministers and generals in Jakarta on Thursday.

Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the situation would now be slightly more flexible, with the operation evaluated monthly so that it could either be "extended or shortened".

The government seems determined to press ahead with its plan to crush the rebel movement Rachel Harvey BBC, Jakarta

Rebels who voluntarily surrender will be given amnesty, and a special economic recovery package for the province is planned, but no details have been given.

Hours later, a joint statement from the US, Japan and EU said they hoped "the state of military emergency is ended as soon as possible".

Human rights

Our correspondent in Jakarta, Rachel Harvey, said that these additional measures may be in part a response to critics who say that the government has failed to deliver on promised humanitarian assistance.

Human rights groups have called on the Indonesian Government to end the offensive and resume talks with the rebels who want independence.

They have been fighting for a separate state since 1976.

In a joint statement, local and international organisations said: "Continued fighting will only result in increased civilian and military casualties, internal displacement, and widespread destruction of livelihoods and property."

But our correspondent says the government seems determined to press ahead and crush the rebel movement, even if it takes longer than military leaders predicted.

The campaign began on 19 May, after a five-month truce collapsed.

It is thought that the government has 45,000 troops and police, against an estimated 5,000 rebels.

The military claims it has killed or captured nearly 2,000 Gam rebels, and that around 60 police and military personnel have died since the offensive began.

But with restricted media access in the province, independent information is difficult to obtain.

The military and human rights groups say 300 civilians have also been killed.