JAKARTA, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The government troops of Indonesiaon Monday shot dead eight separatist rebels during shoot-outs in three separate areas in the westernmost province of Aceh, local military spokesman, Lt. Col. Asep Sapari, told press in the provincial capital Banda Aceh on Tuesday.

    "The armed contacts in the districts of North Aceh, South Acehand Pidie on Monday claimed the lives of eight rebels," Asep was quoted by the official Antara news agency as saying.

    During the conflicts, the spokesman said, a number of firearms,hundreds of ammunitions, documents and logistics belonging to the rebels were also seized by the troops.

    The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been fighting for an independent states in Aceh since 1976, during which thousands of people have been killed. Enditem