Jakarta – Unidentified gunmen have abducted three men working for ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia in the country's troubled Aceh province, military and company officials said yesterday.

Major Eddi Fernandi said the three men – all Indonesians – were forced from their car by armed men as they returned home from work on Thursday at the giant Arun gas field.

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia is partly owned by Texas-based energy giant Exxon Mobil.

Major Fernandi blamed separatist rebels for the abduction – a charge immediately denied by the insurgents.

"I have checked with all our networks," said rebel spokesman Isnandar Alpase. "They are not involved in the abduction." The abduction comes as the separatist rebels of the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian government are preparing to sign a peace deal to end decades of hostilities next month in Switzerland.

In Jakarta, the company confirmed that three employees were missing. However, they did not specify who the abductors were.

Last year, the company was forced to temporarily cease production at its natural gas fields in the province when it came under attack from separatists.

Rebels have been fighting since 1976 for the independence of the province, which lies about 1,800 km north-west of Jakarta.