Two Germans shot in Aceh

Indonesia's military yesterday said it had shot two Germans in Aceh province, killing one, after hearing reports from a villager of suspicious activity near a separatist stronghold.

They were the first foreign casualties from a major Indonesian military offensive to crush rebels in Aceh that has claimed scores of lives.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Achmad Yani Basuki said the shooting was at the village of Lhong Gayo on Aceh's western coast.

He named the dead man as Hendrik Albert, 54. The wounded German was a 49-year-old woman. Both were travelling on tourist visas.

Basuki said a villager had alerted troops stationed nearby about suspicious activity behind his house. He said nine troops dispatched to the area saw light from a torch.

"Our men repeatedly asked that person to identify himself. There was no answer," Basuki said, adding that the torch was then turned off.

He said the soldiers fired three warning shots, but got no response.

"Shots were then fired at the place. After the firing, we checked the location and found Hendrik was dead."

- REUTERS