Hasan Muhammad di Tiro, the former leader of the now-disbanded separatist movement in Indonesia's Aceh province, died Thursday at the age of 84, dpa reported. Di Tiro died of complications from respiratory and heart problems at Aceh's Zainul Abidin hospital, said Farid Hussein, the Health Ministry's director for medical services. Di Tiro founded the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and led a revolt against Indonesian rule in Aceh from exile in Sweden for 25 years until a peace deal between the Indonesian government and GAM ended the insurgency in 2005. The conflict left an estimated 15,000 people dead, mostly civilians. Di Tiro returned to Indonesia in October 2009, and on Wednesday, the government presented a letter reinstating his Indonesian citizenship at his hospital bed. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono offered condolences for di Tiro's death. -- SPA
