The leadership of a rebel movement fighting for independence in the tsunami-hit Indonesian province of Aceh has called for ceasefire talks with the government.

Rebel prime minister Malik Mahmud said in the statement that his men were willing to sit down for discussions with Jakarta to ease fears over the safety of foreign humanitarian workers operating in Aceh.

"We are prepared to meet with [Indonesia] to agree the optimum modalities to ensure the success of the ceasefire and thereby minimise the suffering of the Acehnese people," he said.

Indonesia this week strengthened its military grip on Aceh, requiring all foreigners to register and seek military escort when travelling outside main towns citing a danger of attack by armed rebels.

The rebels have been fighting for independence since 1976. They declared a unilateral ceasefire after the December 26 tsunamis, which killed more than 106,000 people on the northern tip of Sumatra island, and insist it stands.

The government has repeatedly called for the Free Aceh Movement rebels to put down their arms and join the relief effort and says it will not lift restrictions in Aceh until it has full cooperation from the separatists.

A short-lived peace deal between both sides ended in early 2003, prompting the government to seal off Aceh to outsiders and launch a major military offensive to crush the rebels.