Banda Aceh – At least six people, including two soldiers and two separatist guerrillas, have been killed in violence in Indonesia's Aceh province, military and rebel spokesmen said Wednesday.

Second Lieutenant Fakrurrazi and Private Deny were shot dead as they travelled on a motorbike in the Kuala Meuraksa area of North Aceh on Tuesday, Aceh military spokesman Major Zaenal Muttaqin said. Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels stole two SS-1 rifles from the victims, he added.

"It is strongly suspected that GAM fighters were waiting for the victims. They ambushed the soldiers as soon as they passed by, and both soldiers died on the spot," Muttaqin said. "This incident is further proof that GAM are still launching skirmishes and terrifying residents."

GAM military spokesman Sofyan Dawod confirmed that rebels attacked the soldiers, because "Indonesian security forces continue to conduct operations in the villages and cause deep suffering to the Aceh people." "The ambush was carried out by two GAM guerillas and we also took away two SS-1 rifles," Dawod said.

Soldiers shot dead two suspected GAM members during a sweep of the Gampong Naleueng area of East Aceh on Tuesday, Muttaqin said.

He said a civilian was shot dead by a suspected GAM fighter in the Blang Mane area of North Aceh on Tuesday, although local GAM spokesman Teungku Jamaika said the victim was shot by a soldier. Jamaika added that soldiers had shot dead another civilian named Mukhlis Hasan, 22, in the Rayeuk Munje area of North Aceh on Tuesday.

The ongoing violence took place ahead of a resumption of peace talks between Indonesian officials and GAM leaders, slated for the end of April in Geneva. A series of agreements, including a ceasefire pact, came out of negotiations which began in early 2000, but were ignored by both sides.

GAM rebels have been fighting for an independent state in Aceh since 1976. An estimated 10,000 people, mainly civilians, have died since then and more than 400 people have been killed this year alone.

In Jakarta, meanwhile, two men claiming to be GAM members entered the Finnish embassy on Wednesday and said they were seeking political asylum.