TWO TERROR SUSPECTS KILLED IN ACEH POLICE'S SWEEP

Banda Aceh, March 12 (ANTARA) - Two out of a total of eight people suspected of terrorism were killed on Friday during a clash with Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel in Leupueng, Aceh Besar district.
Up till 11.45 West Indonesian standard time (WIB), their bodies were still lying on the roadside about 25 kilometers west of Banda Aceh city while tens of Brimob personnel continued to sweep the area.

Local people and journalists were not allowed to get closer to the location where the two bodies lay.

The clashes with a number of terror suspects started when Brimob personnel stopped a mini bus during a sweep along the road from Banda Aceh to Aceh Jaya.

Passengers inside the vehicle suddenly fired shots at the security personnel. The clash lasted an hour with two people inside the vehicle killed and six others arrested.

The clash caused a halt in the traffic flow from Banda Aceh to Calang until 12.00 WIB. Up till now, Brimob personnel are still sweeping the area.

Security in Aceh Besar district has been intensified since early March 2010 after raids conducted by the police in several areas in Aceh such as Aceh Besar and Pidie resulted in the arrest or immobilization of tens of people suspected of terrorist activity. Most of the arrested men came from outside Aceh province.

Almost all police personnel at precinct and sub-precinct level in Aceh province were deployed to make security checks on passing motor vehicles.

(A051/C/HAJM/B/S012)