Jakarta – Separatist guerrillas and the military in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya have agreed on an immediate ceasefire, the official Antara news agency on Wednesday quoted a local military chief as saying.

Major General Amir Sembiring, commander of the Trikora military region, was quoted as saying the ceasefire had been agreed on Tuesday following a proposal from the Free Papua Movement (OPM). "The agreement was reached following a proposal made by (OPM) military chief Mathias Wenda in a formal letter handed to me by three couriers of the group," Sembiring was quoted as saying.

The OPM also proposed talks with the military, Antara said. It did not say if there were any conditions attached to the ceasefire.

"I thanked (Wenda) for his idea on the ceasefire and for a dialogue. I also guaranteed the safety of every (OPM) member visiting Irian Jaya and proposed a private meeting with Wenda prior to a formal dialogue," Sembiring was quoted as saying.

OPM members would be able to travel freely in Irian Jaya as long as they did not carry weapons and wore civilian clothes, Antara said.