Ban Ki-moon renews call for immediate Gaza ceasefire

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-15-2009 09:37

Middle East countries have hosted diplomats from around the world in a bid to end the violent Israeli offensive.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon began his week-long Middle East trip in Egypt by calling for an "immediate" halt to fighting. He then flew to Jordan where he met with King Abdullah II and Queen Rania in Amman.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives to meet  Jordan's King Abdullah at Biet al-Urdon Palace in Amman  January 14, 2009. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (JORDAN)

Ban will also visit Israel, the West Bank, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait. The Chinese envoy to the Middle East, Sun Bigan, is also in the region. He met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.

Later, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. The diplomatic effort came as officials reported late on Wednesday that Egypt and Hamas are close to a 10-day cease-fire deal with Israel.

Editor:Du Xiaodan