Banda Aceh – At least four people including two suspected separatist rebels have been killed in Indonesia's restive Aceh province on the eve of peace talks due this weekend in Geneva, the army and residents said Friday.

Two suspected members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) died in a skirmish with soldiers in the Singgersing area of South Aceh, said district military chief, Lieutenant Colonel Agus Permana. Troops confiscated an automatic rifle and ammunition.

Residents in the Gapui area of Pidie district said troops had shot dead a farmer on Thursday after mistaking him for a rebel. They quoted witnesses as saying the farmer was shot as he was picking up his hoe. Aceh military operations spokesman, Major Zaenal Muttaqin, said the farmer was a rebel and a handgun was found in his possession.

Unidentified gunmen abducted a village chief in Pidie district and later shot him dead on Wednesday, residents said.