Aceh to return to civilian rule

Indonesia's military launched an offensive in 2003

Indonesia plans to return the restive province of Aceh to civilian rule once a state of emergency expires next week.

But Security Minister Widodo Adisucipto said military operations would continue against separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (Gam).

The decision to lift emergency rule comes as rebels and the Indonesian government are involved in talks designed to end the violence.

At least 10,000 people have died in the nearly 30 year conflict in Aceh.

"From our evaluation, the government wishes to... end the state of civilian emergency and return to normal civilian order so that this situation can support [tsunami] rehabilitation and reconstruction," said Mr Widodo.

Aceh was badly affected by last year's Asian tsunami. More than 165,00 people died or are assumed dead in the province as a result. A further 600,000 were left homeless.

In the wake of the disaster, the Indonesian military and Gam rebels announced an informal ceasefire, although there have since been reports of sporadic violence.

The two sides reopened peace talks in January.

When the last set of talks broke down in May 2003, Aceh was placed under martial law. This was replaced by a state of civilian emergency last May.

Under martial law, the province's leader is an army general, while civil emergency means the territory is ruled by a civilian governor. But curfews, house searches and indefinite detentions can still be licensed by the authorities.