The Indonesian government said Wednesday it hoped military troops in tsunami-ravaged Aceh will conclude their relief mission in the next three months to be replaced by medical workers and technicians.
"I think three month are enough and the sooner they leave the better," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told reporters.
He said Aceh in the coming months will need medical workers to operate hospitals and technicians to rebuild infrastructure.
"We will need no soldiers," he said.
The Indonesian government has allowed the presence of foreign militaries to deliver relief supplies and evacuate victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that swept through Aceh and killed more than 105,000 people.
Troops, naval ships, military helicopters and aircraft have been deployed in Aceh by the United States, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Japan.
(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2005)
