The President made this appeal when the Papal Pro Nuncio in Sri Lanka Monsignor Mario Zenari called on him at Temple Trees yesterday.

The President who requested Monsignor Mario Zenari to convey this message to members of the clergy in the conflict areas said that if they heeded this request and returned to the Government controlled areas it would greatly help the Government to succeed in its efforts to liberate the people in the North from the clutches of terrorism.

According to informed sources, the priests and nuns belonging to four districts - Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi are still with the displaced people.

According to sources, there are six priests and 10 nuns from Mannar and Vavuniya dioceses and 23 priests and 15 nuns from Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi dioceses stranded.

Meanwhile, in a statement signed by Thomas Savundranayagam, Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna, Rayappu Joseph, Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar, Norbert Andradi, Roman Catholic Bishop of Anuradhapura, Kumara Ilangasingha, Anglican Bishop of Kurunegala and Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo urged the LTTE not to use trapped civilians to gain military advantage.

"There should be no restriction of the civilian's right to life and movement," they said.