Jakarta – Indonesian troops shot dead five civilians, including two children, in the troubled province of Aceh, reports said here Sunday.

The soldiers opened fire after a loud bang was heard as a convoy of trucks carrying members of the Mass Riot Control Force passed Peureulak in East Aceh district on Saturday, the RCTI television said.

RCTI reporters said the bang was caused by an exploding tyre but the troops opened fire thinking they had been attacked. Two children were killed by bullets in their homes while three adults were also killed nearby.

The SCTV private television, however, quoted local military authorities as saying the tyre was shot out by rebels hiding by the side of the road. None of the alleged rebels were found or shot, it added.