The Indonesian military has accused Muslim separatists in Aceh province of attempting to sabotage the huge nearby Arun gas field.

The security commander of northern Sumatra including Aceh, Major-General Sedaryanto, says the sabotage had been planned for a long time, but did NOT say what the plan entailed.

The general says dozens of suspected separatists have been arrested in the past two weeks with 13 suspects detained in the past 24 hours.

General Sedaryanto also said nearly 60 firearms had been seized including military assault rifles, machine guns and pistols.

The Islamic Free Aceh movement has been fighting for an independent Muslim state in Aceh since the late 1970s.