Jakarta – Indonesia's president praised Thursday the progress made in peace talks between government negotiators and separatist rebels from tsunami-wracked Aceh province, but he cautioned that a speedy solution to the three-decades-long conflict was unlikely.

The comments were President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's first since the rebels and the government ended a second round of peace talks in Finland on Wednesday, a process that has taken on added urgency since the Dec. 26 tsunami. More than 120,000 Acehnese were killed in the disaster.

At the talks, the rebel leadership publicly stated it was prepared to drop its long-standing demand for independence in exchange for greater autonomy in the oil- and gas-rich region of 4.1 million people.

"The road to the end of the conflict... will be long and needs patience," Yudhoyono told reporters in Jakarta.

Since 1976, more than 10,000 people have died in fighting between the military and the separatist Free Aceh Movement.

The rebel announcement led to hopes that a breakthrough may be possible in the conflict, though analysts cautioned that negotiations over details could easily scuttle the talks. An internationally mediated peace deal in 2002 broke down in May 2003 amid violations on both sides.

Yudhoyono declined to give details on the government's negotiating position, but said he received reports "that the developments were becoming increasingly positive. The Indonesian side is prepared to continue with these informal discussions if the agenda is clear," he said.

He said the upcoming discussions should center on the government's offer of greater self-rule for the province.

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who is mediating the negotiations, said he expected a third round of talks to take place April 12-17 in Helsinki.