Lhokseumawe – Indonesia might grant amnesty to rebels in Aceh province if they abandon their armed, separatist struggle, Vice-President Hamzah Haz said yesterday.

"If the rebels of the Free Aceh Movement ask for amnesty, the government will consider it. But they have to promise not to fight again in the future," Mr Hamzah said while on a three-day tour of the region.

However, the insurgents scoffed at his comments and said they would continue their battle for independence. Rebel spokesman Amri Abdul Wahab said: "We will not ask for amnesty. Indonesia must apologise to us because they have slaughtered thousands of Acehnese."

Aceh, 1,800 km north-west of Jakarta, has been plagued by fighting between separatist and government forces since 1975. Thousands have died. At least 1,300 people have been killed so far this year, most of them civilians. Repeated efforts by the government to negotiate ceasefires have failed.