Banda Aceh – At least 11 people were killed in an armed clash in strife-torn Aceh on Wednesday night, local police said.

Eight of the 11 victims were killed in an alleged ambush by a group of 13 members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) at the village of Darul Aman, Simpang Kiri district in South Aceh, police spokesman Sudharsono said on Thursday. Five other civilians were severely injured and nine houses burnt down.

A senior GAM commander, Amri Abdul Wahab, denied the accusation, saying: "I've contacted all GAM commanders in South Aceh and found out that all of them were at their own headquarters. There was no operation launched on Wednesday night.

"As far as I know, all transmigrants there were friendly towards us. Therefore, I'm wondering whether the killings were conducted by the Indonesian Military [TNI] to corner GAM members." Meanwhile, in Jakarta, the government reiterated its stand that it would not withdraw the military and police from Aceh.