Banda Aceh – Marines killed three suspected separatist rebels in a gunfight at sea off East Aceh, Aceh military spokesman Firdaus Komarno said here on Tuesday. "The marines fired on the rebels' boat after the guerrillas responded to warning shots by opening fire," Komarno said, as quoted by AFP, adding that 12 Kalashnikov assault rifles and thousands of bullets were found on the rebel boat.

The government accuses the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of numerous truce violations and last Thursday threatened to go back to war within five days unless there was progress towards settling disputes.

The 26-year separatist insurgency has killed an estimated 10,000 people, mainly civilians.