Jakarta – Indonesia's top Security Minister said yesterday that the new government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would make no deals with separatist guerillas in troubled Aceh and urged the rebels to surrender.

Mr Widodo Adi Sucipto said that despite a major military operation against the rebels, they remained a potent force which required the government to maintain troops in the province. The minister insisted that the only acceptable solution was for the rebels to put down their arms.

Thousands of people have died in the violence in Aceh. In the latest clashes at the weekend, 18 rebels and a soldier were killed.