Banda Aceh – A court here on Saturday sentenced a separatist rebel to 11 years in prison for his part in a long-running independence battle in the oil and gas-rich province of Aceh.

Judges said Heri Nurmansyah, a member of the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was guilty of "the act of treason with aims to separate Aceh province from Indonesia". Nurmansyah, 22, had been accused of taking part in bombing attacks on the residence of Aceh's deputy police chief and a public bridge in 2000.

The court said Nurmansyah had also served as a GAM "fund collector" since 2001. His lawyers said they would consider to appeal.

Meanwhile, prosecutors at a separate trial on Saturday also demanded university lecturer Irwandi Yusuf be jailed for 14 years for treason. They said Yusuf, a lecturer with the state Syiah Kuala University here, should be jailed because he had participated in "activities connected to GAM's efforts to separate Aceh" from Indonesia.

Yusuf had prepared a speech for GAM chief commander Muzzakir Manaf used by rebel negotiators during peace talks with Indonesia in Switzerland three years ago and acted as a deputy for rebel top spokesman Sofyan Daud. Yusuf had been detained since May 23. His trial continues next week.