Jakarta – Indonesian security forces have shot dead 10 suspected separatist rebels in various clashes in the flashpoint province of Aceh, the army and police said Friday.

Three members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were killed early Friday when a force of 30 soldiers raided their hideout in the village of Siyong, said military spokesman Edi Sulistiadie. Siyong is 15 kilometers east of the provincial capital Banda Aceh. The troops also seized two rifles, he said.

An 18-year-old man was killed when he and another man tried to drive their motorcycle through a police checkpoint in Aceh Besar district late Thursday, the state Antara news agency quoted a police spokesman as saying. The victim was believed to be a GAM member. The other man escaped on the motorbike. GAM officials were not immediately available for comment.

Also on Thursday six rebels were killed in a military raid on a GAM base in the Timang Gajah district of Central Aceh, said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Firdaus.

Police and troops have said they would increase patrols in anticipation of rebel attacks before the 56th anniversary of Indonesia's independence on August 17.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Aceh, a resource-rich province on the northwestern tip of Sumatra island, in the first half of this year. After a series of failed peace talks last year, Jakarta in April sent more troops into the province to try to crush the rebel movement.