Jakarta – The two front running candidates in Indonesia's presidential election sparred yesterday over policies to deal with separatism in Aceh province and endemic graft in the world's fourth most populous country.

Simmering separatism in various parts of Indonesia and widespread corruption are often cited by analysts as factors holding back desperately needed foreign investment.

Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and supreme legislature chief Amien Rais, who ranked first and second respectively in an opinion poll last week, were commenting on the issues in a debate sponsored by the Jakarta Arts Council. The other presidential candidates skipped the debate.

Mr Bambang appeared to opt for a multi-pronged approach to Indonesia's most pressing separatist unrest when an Acehnese poet said Jakarta had exacerbated the culture of violence in Aceh through its drive to crush separatist rebels.

"The Aceh problem can't be solved by security operations alone," Mr Bambang said. "It really must be approached comprehensively. If I am president, I'll continue to solve the situation in Aceh in the most peaceful way possible."

As security minister until a few months ago, he helped to design a policy that involved economic, social and military operations, but which critics said had heavily stressed the military option. Jakarta imposed martial law in Aceh, at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, after talks with the rebellious Free Aceh Movement (GAM) collapsed in May last year.

The government lifted martial law from the resource-rich province last month, but kept tens of thousands of troops there, although it said 5,000 rebels had been killed or captured.

Dr Amien took a swipe at Mr Bambang's involvement as security minister in talks with GAM, assisted by an international mediator. "When we have a conflict among ourselves, don't ever involve a foreign institution. We need to solve our own problems ourselves with our own abilities," Dr Amien said, drawing applause. Mr Bambang said the policy was decided before he became minister.

Both candidates, however, vowed to combat the culture of graft in Indonesia, where many public and private sector processes run into trouble without a bribe to grease the wheels.

In the opinion poll last week, Mr Bambang won 46.6 per cent of the support while Dr Amien, previously seen as an outside chance, came second with 19.7 per cent of the support. President Megawati Sukarnoputri trailed with 13.8 per cent.