Indonesian and Malaysian military chiefs agreed to reduce tension over the Ambalat area in East Khalimantan and settle relevant disputes through diplomatic channel, local media reported Monday.

Indonesian Armed Forces' Commander General Endriartono Sutarto told Media Indonesia that he had talked with Malaysian Armed Force's Commander Tentara Diraja and stressed to the Malaysian commander that the deployment of military forces in the Ambalat area was only aimed at safeguarding Indonesia's sovereignty.

The Detik.com Online here Monday quoted Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda as saying that Indonesia welcomes the request of Malaysia to bring the disputes to diplomatic channel.

Meanwhile, protests against Malaysia had erupted in some places in Indonesia. Over 1,000 students, youths and other people took to the streets and asked Malaysia to leave the disputed waters.

Tensions have been rising between the two countries since Malaysia's state-owned oil company Petronas on Feb. 16 granted energy giant Shell a concession of oil exploration in the area.

Malaysia claims its ownership of the area by showing a map issued in 1979, while Indonesia insists that the map was outdated and the area should be part of its own territorial waters. Indonesia has sent 5 warships and 4 jet fighters to carry out patrola over there.

Source: Xinhua