Banda Aceh – Attacks by separatist rebels in the tsunami-hit Indonesian province of Aceh have intensified in recent weeks despite a renewed peace dialogue, military officials said Thursday.

Aceh military spokesman Ari Mulya Asnawi said troops had killed 20 rebels in the month of April as the separatists stepped up their attacks in the region on the westernmost tip of Indonesia. "They are committing more extortions, kidnappings and senseless killing. They are more brutal," Asnawi said.

In the latest incident on Wednesday, Indonesian troops killed two separatist rebels in a gunfight in the district of South Aceh and confiscated several firearms, two homemade bombs and more than 100 bullets, he said.

Aceh, the region hardest-hit by the December 26 tsunami disaster, has since 1976 been the scene of a violent struggle between separatist rebels and Jakarta.

More than 12,000 people have been killed in resource-rich Aceh since rebels of the Free Aceh Movement launched their campaign for independence.

The conflict intensified in May 2003 when a truce collapsed and Aceh was put under temporary martial law, but the December tsunami prompted Jakarta and the rebels to reopen a dialogue.

Representatives of the two camps met for a third round of informal talks in Finland this month and agreed to meet again in May.

Earlier this week, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the tsunami, which killed more than 128,000 people and left another 37,000 missing in Aceh, had led to a reduction in violence in the province.

"The good news, of course, is that on the conflict side, things are under control," he said.

The rebels could not be reached for comment.