Associated Press

Jakarta, May 12:

Indonesia’s government will return its tsunami-hit Aceh province to civilian rule after the current state of emergency expires next week, officials said today.

The emergency was imposed two years ago to clamp down on a growing separatist movement.

After the December 26 tsunami, the rebels proclaimed a unilateral truce saying they wanted to help rescue efforts, and the government reopened peace talks. The decision to end military rule and the state

of emergency had been widely expected. “The government has decided not to extend emergency rule,” Security Minister Widodo Adisucipto said after a Cabinet meeting today.