Jakarta – Indonesia has described as baseless a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report alleging gross abuses by troops fighting separatist rebels in Aceh province.

HRW said in the report released Thursday that Acehnese refugees in Malaysia had spoken of abuses against civilians by security forces, including extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, beatings and arbitrary arrests.

It said it conducted more than 85 interviews with Acehnese, most of whom had arrived since martial law came into force on May 19. A military operation was launched against Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels the same day.

"This claim is baseless," the foreign ministry said in a statement received Friday.

It said most of the Acehnese who had sought refuge in Malaysia had arrived before the offensive against the GAM was launched, adding: There has not been any report on a new wave of refugees from Aceh to Malaysia." The ministry said separatist rebels had "dispersed and disguised as civilians".

"When there is an armed confrontation and these armed people get killed, it does not fall into the terms of extrajudicial nor summary killings."

Since May 19, more than 1,100 guerrillas have been killed, according to the military. Some analysts question whether the toll also includes civilians, pointing out that relatively few weapons have been seized from those killed or captured.

Top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he doubted the validity of HRW's data. "I respect groups like Human Rights Watch but I appeal to them to do their job fairly. We would be grateful if they care to seek clarification from us," Yudhoyono told reporters.

He said the government would take tough action against any military or police personnel who commit abuses.