The Indonesian military claimed to have killed 12 suspected separatist rebels in the restive province of Aceh over the weekend.

Eleven members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were shot dead in a clash between some 40 armed rebels and a 91-man military team in Pereulak, East Aceh, on Saturday, Aceh military spokesman Major Zaenal Muttaqin said on Sunday. Troops seized eight firearms and about 600 rounds of ammunition, Muttaqin said, adding that there were no casualties among the troops.

The local GAM spokesman, Ishak Daud, said only eight rebels had been killed in some 90 minute exchange of fire. "The three others are civilians shot dead randomly by the Indonesian armed forces," Daud said. Daud said at least two soldiers had been killed in the clash,

In a separate incident, troops shot dead one man suspected of being a GAM rebel in Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar district, on Saturday, another Aceh military spokesman, Major Ertoto (eds: one name) said.

Two suspected rebels, including a man believed to be the deputy commander of GAM's armed wing in the area, were also arrested in Seulimun, in the same district of Aceh Besar on Friday, Ertoto added.

An estimated 10,000 people have died since December 1976 when GAM began its fight for an independent Islamic state on the northern tip of Sumatra island. More than 300 have been killed this year alone in the energy-rich province.