JAKARTA, May 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian government Wednesday lifted civil emergency status in tsunami-hit Aceh province, but security operation remains in the rebellious province, a cabinet official announced.

    Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said that the policy would take effect at zero hours local time on May 19.

    "The president of the Republic of Indonesia decides...the emergency status of civil emergency in Aceh province should be lifted," said a statement read by Indonesian Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin at a joint press conference at the State Palace Wednesday evening.

    "All the operations, including the security operation in the normal status, are still being carried out," it said.

    All the activities in the oil-and-gas-rich province would be ruled on the basis of normal situation, the statement said.

    Indonesian Military Commander General Endriartono Sutarto said that he would not cut the number of troops in the post of civil emergency status as long as there is no security improvement.

    The Indonesian government imposed military emergency status in the province on May 19, 2003 because of escalated rebel activities, and changed the status to civil emergency in May 2004.

    The rebels of separatist Free Aceh Movement have struggled to set up an independent state since 1976. Tens of thousands of people were killed during the conflict between the rebels and government troops, and more than 200,000 others died because of the tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004 that devastated coastal areas of the province. Enditem