Indonesia has told Malaysia that its troops will be allowed to continue their humanitarian work in tsunami-hit Aceh province despite a demand that foreign soldiers leave soon, Defence Minister Najib Razak said in remarks published today.

"Those involved in humanitarian work can continue to remain in Aceh. That is the clarification we have got so far. But we will continue communicating with the Indonesian government," said Najib, who is also deputy prime minister.

Indonesian General Endriartono Sutarto had told Malaysia's armed forces chief General Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin that only non-essential military personnel would be required to leave, Najib was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Zainuddin had sought clarification after Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla said earlier this week that foreign troops should leave Aceh within three months - "in fact the sooner the better".

Najib said Malaysia would soon send more troops to Aceh to manage a relief centre and field hospital which the military plans to establish there.

US seeks 'clarification'

The armed forces of Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States all rushed units to Aceh in the wake of the Dec 26 tsunami disaster which killed more than 110,000 Indonesians.

The United States has also said it was seeking "clarification" from Jakarta after the vice president's comments.

But the Pentagon trod lightly around the issue yesterday, declining to comment on reports that Indonesia had denied the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which has served as a base for relief operation, permission to use its airspace for training flights.

The Lincoln's commander is "very comfortable with all of the opportunities that the Lincoln battle group has to conduct its mission, which is humanitarian operations," Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita said.

Admiral Thomas Fargo, the commander of US forces in the Pacific, also is "comfortable" with the cooperation with the Indonesians, said Brigadier General David Rodriguez, of the Joint Staff.

"This is a non-issue to Admiral Fargo," Rodriguez said.