Washington – US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Monday hailed last week's truce agreement between Indonesia separatist rebels from its northern oil-rich province of Aceh, pledging US humanitarian aid to support the pact.

But Albright – speaking to reporters at a joint news conference with Alwi Shihab, her visiting Indonesian counterpart – stressed that the deal, concluded Friday outside Geneva, was only an initial move towards a lasting peace in the province.

"The May 12 agreement is an important first step, but sustainable resolution of the conflict will require a comprehensive political settlement which addresses the core grievances which have [aggravated] conflict in the province," Albright said.

The deal, due to come into effect on June 2 and set to last for an initial period of three months, deserved support from the international community, Albright said.

The US secretary of state praised both Jakarta and the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for their willingness to embark on the path of peace.

"This is a genuine act of political courage on both sides and represents the best chance in over 24 years to end a conflict which has caused profound suffering and cost thousands of lives," Albright said, announcing the donation of an as-yet unspecified amount of US humanitarian aid.

"We call on Indonesia's friends in the international community to join us in this endeavor so we can help create an atmosphere in which this humanitarian pause can become a permanent peace," she added.

The agreement has raised hopes that the widespread violence that erupted in East Timor after that territory voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999 can be avoided in Aceh. Those hopes however have been tempered by statements that the rebels are still committed to the long-term goal of independence, something Jakarta opposes.

Both ministers stressed that the solution in Aceh must be based on the idea that the province remains part of Indonesia. "The United States supports dialogue aimed at achieving justice and peace in Aceh within the context of a united, democratic Indonesia," Albright said. Shihab noted that Jakarta had continually made clear its demand for territorial integrity as part of a long-term solution.

"We have emphasized the territorial integrity of Indonesia as has been supported by the United States," he said. "This is a historic event for the Indonesian people as well as the Acehnese people that at last we have succeeded in laying the foundation for a peaceful settlement in Aceh as well as in the region," he added.