Indonesia's Defence Minister says there is no deadline for foreign troops to leave the tsunami devastated region of Aceh.

There was global concern last week when Indonesia's Vice President said all foreign troops should all leave within three months.

But After meeting U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to thank him for work done by U.S. forces, Defence Minister Yuwono Sudarsono said there is no date by which foreign troops have to leave.

"March 26th is not a deadline for involvement of foreign military personnel. it is a benchmark for the indonesian government to improve and accelerate its relief efforts so that the large part of the burden of the relief effort will be carried by the indonesian government," Mr Sudarsono said.

Jakarta also wants to end a U.S. arms embargo imposed by the U.S Congress.

The Deputy Defence Secretary said such an embargo should now be seen in a new light.

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