Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – Gunmen have shot dead two former Aceh rebels in the last two days, adding to a string of violence that has plagued the province ahead of the elections.

Spokesman for the Aceh Transitional Committee (KPA) Ibrahim KBS said Wednesday the attacks against commission members were deliberate attempts to destabilize the Aceh Party, a political group formed recently by the KPA as the legislative elections draw near.

"We have lost our best cadres to individuals who do not want to see peace prevail in Aceh," Ibrahim said.

Secretary of the KPA branch in Bireuen, Dedi Noviandi, was found shot dead in his car in Gampong Baru village in Bireuen on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday afternoon two armed men raided the KPA's Aceh Besar branch in Kajhu village, killing M. Nur and seriously wounding Zakaria, who is now in a critical condition at the Banda Aceh state hospital.

Ibrahim urged police to investigate the attacks and capture those responsible. He said he was concerned about the lack of arrests made in relation to previous violent incidences directed at the KPA and the Aceh Party.

A bomb exploded in front of the UKM Hotel in Banda Aceh on Jan. 16, destroying three cars, including one belonging to the Aceh Party.

In October last year, a grenade exploded at the residence of Muzakir Manaf, chairman of the Aceh Party and former military commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel group.

KPA comprises of former GAM combatants who founded the party to voice the political aspirations of the former rebels. The Aceh Party will fight five other local parties for seats at the provincial and regional legislatures in the April 9 elections.

"If the police fail to capture the perpetrators of the attacks we will call for the presence of the international community to monitor security conditions in Aceh." Ibrahim said.

Spokesman for the Aceh police Sr. Comr. Farid Ahmad Saleh confirmed the two murders had occurred, but refused to link the attacks with the elections.

"We are still investigating the cases, but so far have not found any evidence or clues about the party responsible for the violence," Farid said.

He admitted the police had not yet established who masterminded the previous attacks on the Aceh Party, largely due to a lack of evidence.

The police are beefing up security ahead of the elections, he said, with police precinct chiefs meeting Wednesday night to discuss security measures ahead of the elections.

Peace returned to Aceh after government representatives and GAM leaders agreed in July 2005 to end three decades of armed conflict, which left thousands of people dead.

The peace negotiation process was accelerated after a huge earthquake and subsequent tsunami swept through Aceh, killing hundreds of thousands and devastating the province.

Since then several former GAM leaders have won executive posts in direct regional elections.