Jakarta – Indonesia said yesterday it was still willing to talk to Aceh separatists to try to save a fragile peace agreement, but demanded the rebels stop pushing for independence and start disarming.

The government gave the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) between one and two weeks to respond and held back from launching a full-scale military operation.

"GAM is still given the chance," said military chief General Endriartono Sutarto. "The law enforcement operations, the security operations will be launched only if GAM ignores the opportunity given by the government," he said.

He said there were no plans at present to send more troops to the province, where a separatist revolt has been waged since 1976.

Top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said any decision to launch a military operation would not necessarily be taken after one or two weeks. "We'll see in the near future," he said.

A Joint Council meeting scheduled for last weekend in Geneva, seen as the last hope of salvaging the December 9 peace agreement, was cancelled. Jakarta withdrew in protest after GAM demanded the start be postponed for two days.

"The Joint Council meeting can still be held if there are concrete guarantees, in the form of an explicit and formal statement from GAM to return to the basic concept of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, that is the acceptance of special autonomy as the basis of a peace settlement, and to fulfil its obligation to lay down arms," Mr Susilo said.