The law is expected to generate sharp debate in the House of Representatives and its passage is seen as the next hurdle in the peace process in Aceh, where a conflict that began in 1976 left some 15,000 people, mostly civilians, dead.

Legislator Prio Budi Santoso said the draft law was submitted Thursday and would be debated soon.

He did not give a timeframe, but said that he expected contentious discussions on several articles, such as those that allow for the creation of local political parties and the degree of autonomy.

"I think the discussions will be tough and time-consuming, but I'm sure there will be compromises," Santoso told AFP.

Under a peace pact signed between Jakarta and the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki last August, the draft law, which grants wide-ranging autonomy to the resource-rich province, should come into effect on March 31.

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Ma'ruf said this week that the government was optimistic that leadership elections in staunchly-Muslim Aceh would be held by July.

The implementation of the historic accord, signed in the wake of the December 2004 tsunami tragedy, which forced both the government and GAM to reassess their priorities, has so far surpassed expectations.

Foreign monitors overseeing the pact have said they believe the peace process is now irreversible.

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