Aceh rebels 'under air attack'

Frightened villagers have fled the fighting

Rebels in the Indonesian province of Aceh say the Indonesian military has carried out air strikes against them.

Fighters from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) say three areas in north Aceh came under attack from Indonesian aircraft, but none of their bases were hit.

The Indonesian military has not confirmed the report, but it says aircraft have been used at stages in their campaign.

The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh, says Indonesia's operations are intensifying since the military launched its offensive to crush GAM rebels last Monday.

Earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that a victory for the rebels could result in a disastrous security situation in South-East Asia.

Civilians flee

GAM rebels say they moved positions two days ago which prevented their bases from being hit in the air attack.

French news agency AFP said three explosions were heard behind a fish market in Lhokseumawe, sparking panic in the market.

It quoted Indonesian Brigadier General Bambang Darmono as saying three sonic bombs were dropped "aimed at demoralising the enemy".

At least 20,000 civilians have fled the fighting and there are growing fears of food shortages following attacks on vehicles, which the government has blamed on GAM rebels.

"No vehicles want to come here. It's just not safe on the roads," said M Kafim, a market trader in Bandeh Aceh.

Reports of abuse

The Indonesian military says at least 62 rebels have been killed since the government began its campaign after a five-month peace agreement collapsed.

Rebels say hundreds of soldiers and police and 70 civilians have died in fighting, while the military puts its number of dead at two and civilian fatalities at five.

The death toll has not been independently verified.

Our correspondent says reports emerging from the field suggest the level of force being used in some cases amounts to serious abuse.

Journalists have seen the bodies of men who have been shot in the head at close range, she says.

Relatives say Indonesian soldiers were responsible.

The Indonesian security forces dismiss the reports as propaganda, but they say they will investigate, our correspondent says.