Jan 31, Colombo: The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcoming the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa's announcement of safe passage for the civilians trapped in the northern war zone urged the LTTE to allow the civilians to move to where they feel most secure.

Issuing a press statement through his spokesman the UN Chief urged both the government and the LTTE to do everything they can to ensure a safe passage for the civilians to move into government controlled areas where they can have access to food and water and medical care.

"He urges the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to do all in their power to make this safe passage a reality, and to ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with International Humanitarian Law," the statement said.

Moon said he is continued to be concerned by the threat to the estimated 250,000 civilians caught in the area, who are in close proximity to the fighting.

The Secretary-General called upon the LTTE Tigers, in particular, "to allow civilians in the conflict zone to move to where they feel most secure, including areas controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka."

Through the statement the Secretary General called "upon the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that those civilians arriving from the Vanni and other conflict areas are treated in accordance with international standards. Such standards include guaranteeing their freedom of movement, providing basic services, and allowing full access by humanitarian agencies."

Assuring that the United Nations stands ready to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance, the UN Chief called for urgent steps toward a speedy and orderly end to the fighting.

Meanwhile the Tigers yesterday said that they have not imposed restrictions on anyone to leave the war zone but the civilians want to stay to be protected by them.

"We have been very clear that any individual who wishes to leave the combat zone has an individual right to move anywhere," TamilNet website said on Friday quoting the LTTE political head B Nadesan.