Banda Aceh – The United States and other powers expressed "deep disappointment" on Friday at the scrapping of a crucial meeting aimed at saving the Aceh peace pact and put the blame on separatist rebels. The US, Japan and the World Bank said a successful Joint Council meeting would be necessary to save the December 9 peace agreement in the Indonesianprovince.

"We regret that the Free Aceh Movement [GAM] has allowed minor procedural issues to prevent the parties from meeting," they said in a statement. "We call upon GAM to maintain the path for a peaceful solution of the Aceh conflict," AFP reported.

This weekend's meeting in Geneva of the Joint Council – grouping government and rebel leaders and foreign mediators – was scrapped after the government announced Thursday evening it was pulling out.

The statement urged both sides to reschedule the meeting as soon as possible. "For the sake of keeping the [peace] process alive, we hope the parties will put the interests of the people of Aceh to live in peace and security above any other interests."