NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- India on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels to "release" civilians, who it said numbered about 70,000 in Sri Lanka's war zone.

A Sri Lankan soldier poses in front of a Tamil Tigers emblem in the rebel group's former military headquarters.

India is ready to help evacuate them, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Indian parliament.

"Estimates on the number of civilians trapped vary, but 70,000 or so are estimated to be there now. The LTTE were reportedly using them as human shields," he said, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, also known as the Tamil Tigers.

"As the conflict enters what may be the final phase of military operations, the LTTE would best serve the interest of the Tamils by immediately releasing all civilians and laying down arms," Mukherjee added.

He noted that some civilians had either been caught in cross-fire or "stopped and even killed" by Tamil rebels as they tried to escape.

Government troops and the Tamil Tigers are locked in a battle over the rebels' remaining territory in northern Sri Lanka's Vanni region.

The rebels have been fighting for an independent homeland for the country's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983.

Tens of thousands of people have fled the region as government forces have advanced and rebels have been pushed into a smaller and smaller patch of land.

CNN's Harmeet Shah Singh contributed to this report.
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question: What did India estimate?, answer: "Estimates on the number of civilians trapped vary, but 70,000 or so are estimated to be there now. | question: What do the Tamil Tigers want?, answer: an independent homeland for the country's ethnic | question: What is India urging Tamil Tiger rebels to do?, answer: "release" civilians, | question: Number India estimates are trapped in the region by the conflict?, answer: 70,000 | question: How many are estimated to be trapped?, answer: vary, but 70,000 or so are | question: What does India urge?, answer: urged Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels to "release" civilians, | question: What is happening to 70,000 people?, answer: trapped | question: Who did India urge to allow civilians to leave?, answer: Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels | question: What other country is communicating with the Tamil Tigers?, answer: India | question: Who locked in battle?, answer: Government troops and the