POLICE PURSUING 30 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN ACEH

Jakarta, March 5 (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said police are still pursuing at least 30 people suspected of involvement in a terrorist network in Aceh.

"More or less 30. Yes, 30 others are still being pursued," he said at the presidential palace after attending a limited cabinet meeting on political, security and legal affairs which was also attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He said 14 suspects had already been seized and one was killed. A police member meanwhile was killed, four lightly injured and four others being treated in a hospital after the operations so far, he said.

"One of our men was killed. But until today his body has not yet been found because it was taken away by them along with his weapon," he said, adding at least three of the suspects had been wounded in the latest conflict in Langkeube.

The general denied that the police member who was reported killed was actually only being held hostage.

"No. He is being held hostage. According to reliable information, he was already dead when they took him away. We are still chasing them. The one killed was from Densus 88 (special anti-terror unit)," he said.

When asked to explain further about the group, General Danuri said it would be done later.

"Later I will explain it all. It is now still being processed. It still has to be developed carefully. All our men are still in the field. Remember they are not only in Aceh," he said.

The police chief said until last night the police had increased the number of its personnel in Aceh.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had earlier said that the terrorist activity in Aceh was not done by elements from the former Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"They are real terrorists who have organized themselves neatly, chosen a training ground in Aceh as people no longer considered Aceh a conflict region," he said.

A joint team of Densus 88 and Aceh police members has arrested a number of people allegedly linked to terrorism in Jalin hills in the subdistrict of Jantho, Aceh Besar district, since their operations as of February 20.

The police have confiscated from them rifles, 24 rounds of ammunition and a grenade as well as military uniforms and attributes and a number of documents.