TNI COMMANDER SAYS SITUATION IN ACEH CONDUCIVE

Pontianak, Sept 10 (ANTARA) - Indonesian defense forces (TNI) commander General Djoko Santoso said the security situation in Aceh was relatively conducive although a clash broke out recently between the police and armed civilians, believed to be former members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
"In general, the situation is well under control," he said after meeting with the people here on Wednesday.
He said responsibility for peace and order is still in the hands of the police in view of the region's status as a civil region. "Therefore the military will only help if the police need it," he said.
About the distribution of firearms among civilians he said that the police had to deal with it.
Peace in the region was disrupted on Tuesday following a terrorist action at the house of former GAM commander Muzakir Manaf.
A grenade was thrown at Muzakir Manaf's house by an unidentified person causing damage to it and his car. Eight hours later, a clash broke out between the police and some armed civilians in Dirian Rayeuk, Panton Labo, North Aceh. Two people were killed in the clash, one was captured and two suspects managed to escape.
The police disovered an AK-47 and 56 rounds of bullets and a toy pistol at the scene of the incident.