Lhokseumawe – Hopes that delayed elections could be held in several districts of the troubled province of Aceh faded yesterday with the killing of at least three more security personnel.

The bodies of three men, two of them soldiers, were found in Idi Rayeuk subdistrict in East Aceh yesterday, police said. A policeman was shot dead late on Monday in Woyla subdistrict, West Aceh, after escorting ballot boxes.

"We don't know what to do anymore. We held elections in eight subdistricts yesterday but only two polling stations could open and only 323 voters showed up," said a North Aceh election officer, Wahid Hasan.

Polling stations opened in another six subdistricts yesterday, "but we have received reports from Kutamakmur and Baktia that no voters have shown up", said Mr Hasan.

North Aceh, along with Pidie and East Aceh, are the three districts most affected by violence between Indonesian troops and separatist rebels.

The military has accused separatist rebels, who have been fighting for an Islamic State since the 1970s, of terrorising and threatening voters and election officials.

When polling stations remained empty or failed to open on Monday, the election commission allowed them up to 30 days to hold elections.