UN chief Ban repeats call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-18-2009 11:30

Israel was due to call off its offensive just minutes ago. This followed growing calls worldwide for an an immediate ceasefire.

In a speech delivered to the Lebanese Parliament on Saturday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon  speaks during a joint press conference  with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,  not seen, at Abbas' compound in the West  Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.  (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Ban Ki-Moon said, "Let me repeat my simple and core and immediate message. Both sides must first stop the fighting now. We cannot wait for all the details, the mechanisms to be conclusively negotiated and agreed while civilians continue to be traumatized, injured and killed. We have no time to lose. We demand, I demand, again an immediate ceasefire. "