JAKARTA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Aceh Governor-elect Irwandi Yusuf Monday met Indonesian Army Commander Gen. Djoko Santoso Monday to seek support from the military in leading the province, which just recovered from nearly three decades of armed rebellions.

    Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ricardo Siahaan said during the 30-minute meeting, Irwandi, who is a former leader of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), stressed that support from the military is needed to help Aceh province recover.

    According to Ricardo, Djoko had expressed his readiness to support Irwandi, saying that he had ordered all regional military commanders to support development in their respected territories, including Aceh, reported major newspaper The Jakarta Post's website.

    In the meeting, Irwandi said "to win elections is easy, but to make Aceh unite is not an easy job" and that he needs supports from all components of the society, including the military.

    A peace settlement was reached in August 2005 in the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami, ending 29 years of fighting in which 15,000 were killed.

    The rebels gave up their demand for independence, while Indonesia pulled out half of its 50,000 troops and handed over control of 70 percent of the region's rich resources.

    Irwandi, who took part in the recent regional election as an independent candidate, won the first-ever poll in the province, defeating candidates nominated by political parties.