Banda Aceh – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied earlier reports saying he planned to send more than 15,000 troops to Aceh, saying the soldiers would number less than 1,000 and would be used for reconstruction efforts, not combat.

"The soldiers (from the Army's engineering corps) will be deployed because they are needed for reconstruction efforts and not for carrying out combat duties," Susilo said.

"This should not halt the peace and trust building process we are all working hard for." Susilo was speaking at the Aceh governor's official residence in Banda Aceh.

He denied reports the government would send 15,000 soldiers from the engineering corps.

"It's not true; that news is not accurate. Deployment of soldiers from the engineering corps is limited to only one or one a-half battalions, which means less than 1,000 soldiers.

"The presence of soldiers from the engineering corps is natural because they were involved in building bridges and roads right after the tsunami." Soldiers played a vital role reopening roads to areas isolated by the Dec. 26 tsunami.