Banda Aceh – Three rebels and three civilians have been killed in Aceh province over the past two days as an offensive against separatist guerrillas continues, the military said on Tuesday.

The news filtered through as legislators in Jakarta urged the government to give soldiers and police serving in the province a hefty increase in allowances.

Two rebels were shot dead during an army raid on a suspected hideout at Idie Rayeuk in East Aceh on Monday. Another was shot dead in a clash with a military patrol at Mutiara Timor in Pidie district the same day, provincial military spokesman Ahmad Yani Basuki said.

Basuki accused Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members of shooting dead two civilians and a local government official in separate locations in Bireuen and Pidie districts on Sunday and Monday.

He added that a rebel had been captured by troops at Jeumpa in Bireuen district on Sunday, while four others were arrested in a raid at Dewantara in North Aceh on Monday. Three rebels surrendered in Pidie and Aceh Besar districts on Monday, he said.

A parliamentary team monitoring the state of emergency in Aceh demanded a rise in the special daily allowance for troops and police in the province from Rp 21,000 (US$2.5) to Rp 35,000. The team also asked the government to provide metal detectors, flak jackets and more helicopters for the forces, the state Antara news agency reported.

The military on May 19 declared martial law and launched an all-out offensive to crush GAM, which has been fighting for independence since 1976.