Banda Aceh – Eight more deaths were reported Friday as a general strike called by separatist rebels gripped Indonesia's restive province of Aceh for a third day. Most public minibuses stayed off the streets, schools remained shut and most shops were closed, especially in the main towns of Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe.

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) called the strike to protest against alleged brutality by police and troops and Jakarta's plan to revive a separate military command for the province.

Several rebels attacked a public phone call centre, known as a "wartel", at Bayeun in East Aceh Thursday evening and killed a policeman and a civilian, said district police chief Gaguk Sumartono.

He said 10 police were calling their families at the time of the attack, during which the owner was seriously injured by gunshots. Sumartono said four civilians were slightly injured after the attack but did not say by whom. Local activists said seven civilians were beaten by policemen searching the area.

Four suspected rebels were killed in a dawn raid by troops on a house in the Muareudu area of Pidie district on Friday morning, residents said.

One resident told AFP the rebels were shot after being arrested. He said the guerrillas had been collecting money from residents.

The body of a man with a gunshot wound in the head was found in the Samalanga area of Bireuen district on Friday morning, local humanitarian workers said.

Witnesses said another man was shot by police in Lhokseumawe on Thursday afternoon. They said he fled after being stopped by police but was shot dead.

GAM has been fighting since 1976 to establish an independent Islamic state.

Jakarta last year granted Aceh greater self-rule and a larger share of oil and gas revenues. It also allowed the province to implement Islamic law but ruled out independence.

More than 1,700 people died in 2001 and 112 have already been killed this year in Aceh.