The head of the Indonesian military command overseeing the restive province of Aceh has said that controversial air strikes have been effective in battling separatist guerrillas there.

Speaking to journalists here late on Tuesday, Mayor General Endang Suwarya said recent air-strikes were successfully eliminating remote jungle bases of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), and were not endangering civilians.

"They are effective because encircling an area in a thick jungle is very difficult. It is better for us to strike first and clean up later. This is very effective and I have repeatedly done this," Suwarya said.

The air strikes use OV-10 Bronco planes to shell areas prior to land sweeps by troops. Suwarya said the attacks were only launched on suspected GAM bases which are far from settlements.

"I am making use of them against suspected targets which are, of course, far from any settlements. We operate in jungle areas," the general said. However, he said that air strikes were only effective when the targets involve bases or concentrations of at least 70-80 guerrillas.

The military launched a major operation in May 2003 to crush GAM, which has been fighting for independence since 1976, after the collapse of a brief truce. Military and police figures show about 2,200 rebels have since been killed. Human rights groups have said many of the dead are civilians.