Two Malaysian journalists were questioned by Indonesian police in Aceh province Saturday on suspicion of violating their visas.

Police said Samsul Akmar and Abdul Razak of The New Straits Times newspaper were still being questioned late Saturday afternoon about six hours after they reported to police headquarters in the province, where martial law authorities are considering whether or not to control the presence of foreigners.

Indonesia's military has for three weeks been conducting a major military operation against separatist rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh.

On Wednesday night in West Aceh a German tourist was shot and killed and his wife wounded by Indonesian troops. The military said its soldiers were responding to a call for help by a resident frightened of GAM.

'Short visa'

Authorities have tried to stop most foreigners, including non-government organisations, aid groups and some journalists, from visiting the province on Sumatra island since it launched its operation on May 19.

Aceh police spokesman Sayed Husaini said the journalists had a one-month "short visit" visa and police were trying to determine whether it had been misused.

"Did they have permission to carry out journalistic activities?" he said to reporters.

The journalists, who have been in Aceh for about a week, had a press card from the martial law administrator in Aceh and also had permission from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs ministry to work as reporters, Husaini said.

Also Saturday former Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas was preparing to leave for Sweden on Sunday as part of a delegation, including police, who will present what they describe as proof of GAM's involvement in terrorist activities.

Indonesia has been urging the Swedes to act against GAM leaders, some of whom are Swedish citizens, living in the country.

The conflict has left five of Aceh's districts with power blackouts after four State Electrical Company (PLN) towers were toppled in an act of sabotage, a PLN official said.

Impede movement

Indonesia's military blamed GAM for the sabotage, saying the rebels hoped to impede the movement of troops at night.

A GAM spokesman, speaking to AFP in Jakarta, denied the rebels were responsible.

The military said Saturday it has killed 14 rebels in the past three days and expects to seize GAM's main bases during the first two months of the operation which began on May 19.

A team from the state National Commission on Human Rights is in Aceh in the hope of conducting investigations there.

Among the cases it hopes to re-examine are killings in the Matang Maplam area near Bireuen on May 21. Villagers said the military killed seven young men including a boy of 12 but the military has strongly denied the allegations, saying the victims were rebels.

"Go ahead and make your own analysis," martial law administrator Major General Endang Suwarya said he urged the rights investigators. "We won't intervene. What's important is the reality in the field." - AFP