Indonesia said today it was pulling out of weekend talks in Geneva with Aceh separatist rebels, which sought to save a fragile four-month-old peace pact.
Top security minister Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Jakarta's decision followed a move by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to postpone the meeting by two days.
The meeting, which would group government and rebel negotiators with mediators was seen as the last hope of saving the December 9th agreement to end the 26-year war.
Mr Yudhoyono described GAM's postponement as "an absolutely irresponsible attitude, which will destroy the process for a peaceful solution" for Aceh.
The conflict in the energy-rich province on Sumatra island has already cost an estimated 10,000 lives - the majority of them civilians. Around 50 people have been killed in the past three weeks as the pact began to unravel.
Asked if the government is still willing to negotiate with the rebels, the minister said: "We will discuss this matter at a cabinet meeting while waiting for developments."
With the cancellation "it is almost certain that there will be new tension in Aceh and therefore we must prevent this from happening to protect the people," Mr Yudhoyono said.
The Indonesian government signed the peace pact in the face of strong resistance from elements of the powerful military.