UN chief Ban repeats call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

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United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, reaches  to shake hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,  following a joint press conference at Abbas' compound in  the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.  (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Ban also urged Israel to call a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The UN Chief made the call on Friday during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Abbas called for an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza as well.

Abbas said, "Now we should focus on stopping all military action and aggression. And we demand the existence of international forces in the Gaza Strip immediately."

Ban Ki-moon is on a week-long visit to the Mideast region.

Editor:Du Xiaodan