Malaysian today welcomed an Indonesian peace deal with separatist rebels in the province of Aceh and said it would deploy some 25-30 peace monitors.

"For too long the country has suffered as a result of the conflict, so I welcome this and we will cooperate (with the Indonesian authorities)," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

The agreement between the government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement was signed in Helsinki yesterday.

EU to head monitoring team

Due to the conflict and after last year's deadly tsunami in Aceh, thousands of refugees from the province have sought asylum in Malaysia.

Syed Hamid said the foreign peace monitoring team in Aceh would be headed by an official from the European Union.

In addition to Malaysia, other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will also contribute monitors.

"With the involvement of the EU and Asean to monitor and work together, I hope there will be durable and lasting peace," he said.