Related: Military operation successful in tsunami disaster relief

    JAKARTA, Jan. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Chief of the Indonesian Intelligence Board (BIN) Syamsir Siregar said on Thursday that the United States used its humanitarian operation in tsunami-hit Aceh province for their own interest, especially in effort to control the Malacca Strait.

    Siregar said that the country had a strong interest on the channel, as it use the channel for its trade transportation, which brings more benefit.

    "Before, the government of the United States insisted on controlling the Malacca Strait, now there is a chance to know the strait in detail, of course it uses it," he told reporters after acoordination meeting between the government and the lawmakers about the issue of Aceh province, at the Parliament building.

    "The strait is very important for them, for their trade channel," he added.

    Therefore the chief of intelligence said that if the Indonesian government was ready to take over work in Aceh province, the US troops must leave the area soon.

    "I think within three months (after the tsunami) we can take over the work," he said.

    Meanwhile, Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said that his ministry had ordered one Indonesian military officer to accompany foreigners in their activities in the province.

    Thousands of volunteers and some 19,000 foreign troops, including those from the United States, are carrying out humanitarian activities in Aceh province.

    Previously, the United States insisted on controlling the most busiest strait, but it was rejected by the relevant littoral countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, that said that they have responsibility on the security of the channel. Enditem