Banda Aceh – Continuing violence involving Indonesian government forces and separatist rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has left at least five killed, police and residents said Sunday.

Gunmen riding a motorcycle shot dead a police officer in the downtown area of Lokhseumawe in North Aceh after dark on Saturday, a police source there said. The attackers also took the victim's firearm before escaping, he added.

Sofyan Daud, Deputy Commander of the North Aceh GAM, denied that his men had done the shooting. "How is it possible for GAM members to enter, carrying firearms, a city like Lhokseumawe which is currently heavily guarded by thousands of soldiers and policemen," Daud said.

Lhokseumawe is the near the huge Arun gas field where oil and gas operations have been temprorarily halted amid security concerns. Jakarta has poured in troops and police to safeguard the area and allow it to resume its oil and gas operations, the stoppage of which has already caused heavy losses in revenues to the government.

In the neighbouring district of Pidie, a civilian suffering from mental problems was shot dead by soldiers during a sweep in the area on Saturday, according to human rights activists. He was killed as he fled from troops, according to Muharizal Hasan of the Coalition of Human Rights NGOs.

In West Aceh, a man arrested by police on suspicion of involvement in the GAM was found dead in Krueng Sabe on Saturday, a statement by the same rights coalition said. His body showed signs of heavy torture, it added. Another man who was arrested with him at the same time, is now being treated for severe injuries, the statement said.

The GAM commander for the Central Aceh region, Teungku Ilham bin ilyas Leubee, claimed that rebels have killed 10 policem during an ambush on a police truck. Ilham told AFP by handphone that that the truck was shot at from a hill in Timang gajah late on Friday night. The local police chief could not be immediately reached for comment.