The Indonesian military says it has stopped publishing figures for separatist rebels killed by its troops in Aceh province.

The military says the move is temporary and denied it is linked to criticism from rights activists.

Until recently, it had publicised the rebel casualty toll almost daily since launching a major operation nine months ago to crush the Free Aceh Movement (or GAM).

A military spokesman says rebels are still being killed in the bitter conflict even though the deaths are no longer listed in daily incident reports given to the media.

The AFP newsagency says more than 1,300 guerrillas have been killed since last May and 2,000 others have been arrested or surrendered.