War looms as Indonesia and Aceh talks fail

Last-ditch peace talks between the Indonesian government and separatists from Aceh province have failed, after more than 12 hours…

Last-ditch peace talks between the Indonesian government and separatists from Aceh province have failed, after more than 12 hours of negotiations.

"The Henri Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue had been engaged in last-minute efforts to bring the government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement together in an attempt to help them resolve their immediate differences and avert a resumption of conflict," Steve Daly, a spokesman for the Geneva-based group, said.

"Those efforts were unfortunately unsuccessful."

The leader of separatist rebelsfrom Indonesia's Aceh province said his men wereready for with war with Indonesia after the talkscollapsed.

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"The Indonesia government wishes to continue their war on the Acehnese," rebel leader Mahmood Malik told reporters.

"We will fight. We are ready. We have been fighting already for 27 years."

He said his group would appeal to the United Nations tointervene. He did not elaborate.