Jakarta – Indonesian soldiers killed seven suspected rebels in two gun battles in restive Aceh province, a military spokesman said Friday.

Troops gunned down four alleged members of the Free Aceh Movement in the eastern Aceh district of Pidie late Thursday. Four others were killed near the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, said Ari Mulya Asnawi. Troops recovered several assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from the victims, he said. Rebels couldn't be reached for comment.

Almost 2,300 suspected rebels have been killed since Jakarta launched a fresh Aceh offensive in May 2003. Both sides have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including kidnapping, rape and murder.

Guerrillas have been fighting since 1976 for an independent homeland in the oil-and-gas-rich province on the northern tip of Sumatra island. At least 13,000 people have been killed in the conflict, most of them civilians.