Banda Aceh – Three policemen and a civilian were killed as separatist rebels and Indonesian government forces clashed in the restive province of Aceh, police said Thursday.

Sergeant Major Sulaiman was gunned down by three men on motorcycles as he was playing volleyball in Pante village, North Aceh, on Wednesday, North Aceh police chief Superintendent Abadan Bangko said. "The three men appeared suddenly on their motorbikes, all without number plates, and fired a total of seven shots which led to the death [of Sulaiman]," Bangko said.

In a separate incident, Sergeant Major Zulkarnaen was also shot by unknown gunmen as he was sitting outside his home in Banda Masen, also in North Aceh, late on Wednesday, Bangko said. Zulkarnaen died on the way to the hospital, he added.

In a third incident, police Superintendent Saleh Amir, who had been treated for gunshot wounds at a private hospital in Jakarta after being ambushed by gunmen in Lambada area of Aceh Besar two weeks ago, died Thursday, said Aceh Police Operation Spokesman Superintendent Yatim Suyatmo.

Early on Thursday, suspected Free Aceh separatist (GAM) rebels also threw a grenade into the house of army Lieutenant Colonel Hanafiah in Kutablang area of Lhokseumawe in North Aceh. North Aceh district military commander Lieutenant Colonel Suyatno said that Hanafiah survived the attack, but was badly wounded.

A 21-year-old civilian was also gunned down by man in a passing van in Pulo Blang Tunong, North Aceh on Wednesday. "The victim died, [after being] shot twice in his chest," Bangko said. The reason for the murder remains unclear.