AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,
Indonesia prepared Dec. 28 to pull its final batch of troops out from Aceh in the next major step towards implementing a pact signed with separatist rebels in August aimed at ending years of conflict.
A total of 3,353 soldiers are due to withdraw from the North Acehnese port town of Lhokseumawe on board three navy ships and two C-130 transport planes on Thursday, armed forces deputy spokesman Bibit Santoso told AFP.
A spokeswoman from the foreign mission monitoring the implementation of the historic pact said the event would see the last of non-Aceh-based troops leave the province at the tip of Sumatra island.
Santoso said the armed forces military chief Endriartono Sutarto had said that due to technical problems, some troops may not leave until January 2.
He could not provide numbers however and the spokeswoman told AFP
