Date set for Aceh's first elections since peace deal

Indonesia's national election commission has announced that the province of Aceh will hold elections on December 11, the first polls since a landmark peace deal was signed one year ago.

The ballot will see the election of a governor, district chiefs and mayors in 19 administrative areas.

The polls were initially scheduled for April, but were delayed while the national parliament approved an autonomy law for Aceh as required under the peace deal.

Aceh was racked by a violent and deadly separatist conflict for almost three decades.

The peace deal saw the Free Aceh Movement drop its demand for independence in return for, among other concessions, the right to form local political parties which are banned elsewhere in Indonesia.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA