BANDA ACEH, 21 May 2003 - FIERCE fighting between separatist rebels and the military in Indonesia's Aceh province killed 13 people today on the third day of a big army offensive, a rebel spokesman said. Tengku Agam, spokesman for the Free Aceh Movement, known by its Indonesian acronym GAM, said the 13, including 10 civilians, were killed during an attack about 2km kilometres east of the northern Acehnese town of Bireun.
A military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Firdaus Komarno, confirmed an operation was under way in the region but would not give details on casualties. "The military are coming out in big numbers on land on sea. Ten civilians along with two unarmed rebels and one government soldier were killed," Agam said. Azhari, a local Red Cross volunteer who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said he heard that at least 10 people were killed.

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