Banda Aceh: Indonesian attack planes on May 19 fired rockets at a rebel base in Aceh province, signalling the start of a military offensive just hours after the breakdown of peace talks in Tokyo.

Three planes fired the rockets at a stronghold of the Free Aceh Movement (FAM) around 20 kms East of the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, said Maj Gen Erwin Sujono.

"The offensive has begun," Sujono said in Banda Aceh.

He added that 15 warships had moved into waters close to the Northern town of Lhokseumawe, an area with a heavy concentration of rebels.

Earlier on May 19, the Indonesian military said it was ready to "ambush and paralyse" separatist rebels in Aceh while hundreds of troops parachuted into the province in a show of force.

Six C-130 Hercules transport aircraft released 458 soldiers over an airstrip close to Banda Aceh just hours after Indonesia announced a military crackdown and martial law in the province.

It was unclear if there were any casualties in the attack, which the military said targeted an alleged weapons cache in the rebel camp.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri signed a decree on May 18 night authorising war in the oil-and gas- rich province after a rebel delegation in Tokyo rejected Jakarta's demand to lay down their weapons and accept autonomy instead of independence.

Agencies