Seven people were reported to have died in the latest fighting on Thursday, which has been going on for more than 25 years.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed since then - more than 100 already this year.

But Mr Haz said the violence was futile because autonomy was the best the province was going to get.

"People must not be influenced by GAM's promises to establish an independent nation of Aceh as all the wishes of the Acehnese have been met," said Mr Haz.

Human rights report

Jakarta last year granted Aceh greater self-rule and a larger share of oil and gas revenues. It also allowed the province to implement Islamic law but ruled out independence.

But the government is failing to address human rights violations in Aceh, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in its annual report released on Wednesday.

"The 2001 death toll had topped 1,300 by September, and while most of the deaths were civilians caused in the course of military operations, the rebel Free Aceh Movement was also responsible for serious abuses," it said.

Many towns were said to be largely deserted on Thursday as people stayed at home.

GAM called the strike to protest against alleged human rights abuses by the security forces and a government plan to revive a separate military command for the province.

The Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno said plans to revive the military command in Aceh were still being studied.

At the start of the strike on Wednesday there were reports that police drove buses and forced some shopkeepers to open their businesses in Banda Aceh.

There were also reports of rebel intimidation to force shopkeepers to close.