"We are asking Secretary General Kofi Annan to use the moral authority of his office to urge the government of China to reconsider its policy on Falungong practioners," said Gail Rachlin, a spokesman for the sect.

"We are asking for your (Annan's) help to urge the government of the People's Republic of China to lift its ban on Falungong and to give a fair and just resolution of the current crisis," Rachlin told a news conference here.

Beijing announced in July it had banned the sect, which combines traditional Chinese meditation with moral teachings, after Falungong followers staged a 10,000-strong demonstration in Beijing in April.

Thousands of its followers have been arrested since then, and Beijing cracked down on the group again two weeks ago on the suspicion Falungong followers would stage ademonstration at the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Communist regime.

Falungong claims a following of up to 100 million worldwide.