Indonesia is considering sending thousands of extra troops to the strife-torn northern province of Aceh.

Reinforcements have been requested by the military commander in the province, where about 20,000 soldiers and 10,000 police are already stationed.

Indonesia's Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono supports boosting the military presence to counter guerrillas from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), a force which is believed to number about 3,000 and which is fighting for independence from Jakarta.

Mr Susilo briefed the Indonesian cabinet on Monday after a week-long trip to Aceh where he investigated whether to impose a state of civil emergency - one step down from martial law.

The government is preparing to announce a revised policy for Aceh where separatist violence has raged for 26 years, leading to the deaths of at least 10,000 people.

'No martial law'

After Mr Susilo briefed the cabinet, Vice-President Hamzah Haz said: "There will be no martial law... but we will discuss the deployment."

There should an explanation for the additional reinforcements

General Endriartono Sutarto, armed forces chief

General Endriartono Sutarto, head of the armed forces, said a decision on reinforcements rested on the evaluation of how to handle the situation.

"There should an explanation for the additional reinforcements," he said.

"If [troops] are increased but without any clarity [of purpose], it will not be good," he said.

Mr Susilo, who is a retired general, has asked President Megawati Sukarnoputri to approve the deployment of an additional 8,000 troops to the province on the northern tip of Sumatra island, Mr Sutarto said.

He was passing on a request from the province's military commander.

Huge commitment

The Indonesian army has 230,000 soldiers, but only about 70,000 are said to be combat-ready.

One-third of that total could be deployed in Aceh if the requested reinforcements are sent.

Mr Susilo said a meeting of security officials about the situation in Aceh would be held on Wednesday in his office.

Nine out of 10 Acehnese oppose military rule, the governor said

At the weekend, Aceh's governor Abdullah Puteh said nine out of 10 people there opposed martial law.

He said they wanted the Indonesian Government to focus on peace talks with the separatist rebels.

Fresh separatist violence occurs almost daily in Aceh and though various ceasefires have been agreed, none have been held.

Talks are also being brokered between the two sides in Geneva, but correspondents say there is no sign of a breakthrough.