AP, 20 October, 2003

MEDAN: Eleven alleged separatist rebels from Indonesia's Aceh province went on trial Monday accused of violating anti-terror laws by carrying out three bombings in this north Sumatran city.

The 11 could face the death penalty if found guilty over the blasts at a hotel, a natural gas pipeline and the mayor's office in Medan, in North Sumatra province, 1,400 kilometers northwest of Jakarta.

None of the blasts - carried out between August 2002 and March 2003 - caused any deaths or injuries, and damage was slight.

Rebels in Aceh have been fighting for a separate state for 27 years. The movement's leaders have denied ever carrying out bombings outside of Aceh, and accuse Jakarta of using the Medan blasts to discredit them.

Manaf Abdi, 61, Tengku Johan, 68, and Ridwan - alias Muhamad Yusuf - were described by prosecutors as rebel commanders. The other eight were accused of being intelligence agents.

The men weren't required to enter a plea. After the charges were read out, the trial was adjourned until Thursday.

Indonesia is currently undergoing a major offensive to crush the rebellion in Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra island. The military claims it has killed more than 900 rebels and captured 1,400 others since the campaign began on May 19.

At least 20 of those detained in the province are currently on trail for treason. Police say around 200 others will be prosecuted on similar charges.