Banda Aceh – The Indonesian military said Thursday it had shot dead a key figure in the self-styled government proclaimed by separatist rebels in Aceh province.

Alpian, a 39-year-old sub-district chief for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) chapter in South Aceh's Meukek area, was shot dead by army troops during a skirmish on Wednesday, said Captain Candra, a local military spokesman.

Troops seized ammunition and GAM flags from the dead man. No immediate comment was available from GAM. Candra said soldiers on Thursday also arrested a 16-year-old guerilla in Meukek.

Separately, a police chief in Bireuen district in northern Aceh said the rebels had shot dead a 48-year-old village chief on Wednesday.

The military says it has killed more than 1,300 rebels during an offensive which began last May to crush the separatist guerrillas. About 2,000 guerrillas and their sympathisers have been arrested or have surrendered, it says.

GAM has been fighting since 1976 for independence for the province on the northern tip of Sumatra island.