The order came after a series of clashes in the province as the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist negotiators inked a draft peace agreement in Helsinki on Sunday.

At least five rebels, four TNI soldiers and two civilians have been killed since then, according to GAM. The TNI says there have only been two clashes, in which four separatists and one soldier died and two were wounded.

"The President has asked TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto not to launch any more offensives against the separatists for the sake of the peace deal," Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said after a Cabinet meting on Wednesday.

Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan A. Djalil, one of the government's negotiators, said the President also asked the TNI leadership to disseminate points in the peace deal to soldiers in the field.

"The President made it very clear in the meeting that the TNI must take a defensive posture in case of attacks by GAM fighters. There is a possibility that they (soldiers) will remain in their barracks in the meantime," he said.