Banda Aceh (Agencies) – Indonesia wants a lasting truce with separatists in tsunami-ravaged Aceh province, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Friday, as both sides expressed a willingness for talks to end the 28-year rebellion.

Kalla, speaking to reporters in Banda Aceh, said Jakarta wanted more than just a ceasefire while a massive international aid effort is under way in a province where more 110,000 people were killed and 700,000 left homeless.

"Ceasefire means you stop now, and fight another day. No, we're making [it] permanently," he said in brief remarks in English after Friday prayers in Aceh's provincial capital. "It is hard to conclude but the steps towards that are now being built," he said. "Later we will arrange to solve the conflict, smoothly, cleverly and with dignity."

The rebel prime minister-in-exile Malik Mahmud said in a statement from Stockholm on Wednesday his Free Aceh Movement, better known by its initials GAM, repeated their ceasefire offer to help efforts to rebuild the region.

"Under the present situation, this is a good chance for both sides to sit down and try to discuss a settlement to the political situation," Malik said.