UN chief Guterres urges peace in Lebanon, addresses Myanmar crisis at ASEAN-United Nations summit in Laos

An escalation of conflicts in the Middle East is a serious threat to global security and everything must be done to avoid all-out war in Lebanon, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday (Oct11).

"We see an enormous tragedy in Lebanon, and we must do everything to avoid an all-out war in Lebanon,” he said.

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Guterres, speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos, also condemned Israeli attacks that wounded UNpersonnel.

"What has happened is obviously condemnable. There was naturally a reaction from many sides in solidarity with the peacekeepers who were wounded, telling Israel very clearly that this incident was intolerable and could not be repeated," he said.

Guterres raises Myanmar's crisis at ASEAN-UNmeeting in Laos

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the Myanmar crisis and called for ASEAN leaders to establish peace and stability in the embattled member country.

"The people of Myanmar need peace, and I call on all countries to leverage their influence towards an inclusive political solution to the conflict," Guterres said.

Guterres also expressed solidarity with Indonesian peacekeepers who had been wounded in the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

Leaders of the 10-member ASEAN were in Laos this week to join the annual gathering to discuss a wide range of regional and global issues with their counterparts and dialogue partners including theUnited States, China, Japan and Russia.

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