Jakarta – Indonesian police on Wednesday released five key negotiators from the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) days ahead of President Megawati Sukarnoputri's visit to the troubled province.

But police said the negotiators still faced trials over allegations of spreading hatred against the government.

"Five out of the six GAM negotiators are being released on a temporary basis. As of today those five can go back to their home," Aceh deputy police spokesman Sudarsono told Reuters.

Police detained the six separatist negotiators last month over allegations of provoking the public and inciting rebellion. Sudarsono said police were still holding one negotiator for having a fake passport and because he faced trial in Indonesia's capital. "The trial must be held in Jakarta because that's where the fake passport was made," Sudarsono said.

Megawati, a staunch nationalist who will travel to Aceh on Sunday, recently apologised to the province for past human rights abuses and has agreed to the release of the separatist figures. But she has stood by earlier comments that she will not allow Aceh to break away from Indonesia.

On Tuesday, during a visit to Malaysia, Megawati sent a stern warning to Aceh's separatist rebels saying they would face "tough action" from Jakarta.

Thousands have died in decades of fighting between security forces and rebel fighters in resource-rich Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra island.