Banda Aceh – International mediators yesterday unveiled a peace plan that they hope will end 26 years of fighting between separatists and government troops in Indonesia's Aceh province.

The plan offers more autonomy for the province's four million people and elections for a provincial legislature and administration.

"Both sides would immediately cease hostilities, acts of violence and intimidation, destruction of property, illegal arrests, harassment and illegal searches," said Mr Bill Dowell, spokesman for the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which is brokering the talks.

Under the peace plan, the two sides would set up a 150-member team of monitors, including 50 mostly ex-military representatives from Europe and South-east Asia. "Each side must agree not to shoot these monitors," Mr Dowell said.

The committee, to be operational within a month after the accord is signed, would form a team to "monitor security, investigate violations and be the point of reference for all complaints".

The monitors would publish weekly reports and designate certain schools, mosques and other facilities as demilitarised zones, he said.