Peace talks fail in ravaged area

HELSINKI, Finland – Indonesian government and rebel leaders from tsunami-devastated Aceh province broke off peace talks here Saturday after failing to reach a cease-fire in their 30-year conflict. Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari urged both sides to quickly resume negotiations.

The government and Free Aceh Movement had agreed to the talks in the aftermath of the Dec. 26 tsunami catastrophe.

In the days after the tsunami, both sides pledged to freeze military operations. But the informal truce has been ignored by the military, which has said it has killed more than 200 alleged rebels.

The military has accused the rebels of attacking aid convoys – a charge they deny. Relief workers have reported no such attacks and say the fighting has not affected their operations in Aceh.