Jakarta – Eight suspected separatists and a marine were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Indonesia's restive Aceh province, a military spokesman said Friday.

Navy Sgt. Agus Wijaya was shot dead Thursday when about 15 marines raided the eastern Aceh village of Titi Bareuh, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ary Mulya Asnawi said. Eight rebels from the Free Aceh Movement were also killed in the firefight, Asnawi said. Troops recovered five machine guns and several hundred bullets, he said.

A rebel spokesman couldn't be reached for comment. It is impossible to verify the military's claims, since it limits journalists' movements in the province and bars them from most rebel-held areas.

Guerrillas have been fighting since 1976 for an independent homeland in the oil- and gas-rich province on the northern tip of Sumatra island. At least 13,000 people have been killed, including almost 2,300 suspected rebels since Jakarta launched a new offensive in May 2003. President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is to be installed next Thursday, has promised to settle the Aceh conflict.

Both sides have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including kidnapping, rape and murder. Indonesia has also been accused of locking up rebel sympathizers without charges and torturing them into confessing crimes.