The UN&nbsp;Security Council on Friday called for an end to the fighting in Ethiopia and for talks on a lasting ceasefire as the 15-member body expressed deep concern in a rare statement about the expansion and intensification of military clashes.

The council also "called for refraining from inflammatory hate speech and incitement to violence and divisiveness."

Also Read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-declares-nationwide-emergency-as-insurgents-threaten-the-capital-426337">Ethiopia declares nationwide emergency as insurgents threaten the capital</a>

It had been negotiating a statement for several days and eventually reached a compromise with Russia on the text, diplomats said. Such statements have to be agreed by consensus.

Russia and China have long made clear they believe the year-long conflict, which started in the northern region of Tigray, is an internal affair for Ethiopia. Both countries are council veto-powers - along with the United States, Britain and France - so any strong council action, like sanctions, is unlikely.

The war, which has killed thousands of people and forced more than two million from their homes, has intensified in recent weeks. With rebels threatening to move on the capital Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian army on Friday called on former troops to rejoin to fight them, state media said.

A planned Security Council meeting on Ethiopia on Friday was postponed until Monday, said Mexico's UN&nbsp;Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, council president for November.

The statement on Ethiopia - drafted by Ireland, Kenya, Niger, Tunisia and St Vincent and the Grenadines - was only the second by the Security Council in the past year.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joint-un-ethiopia-rights-team-all-sides-committed-abuses-in-tigray-426477">&nbsp;Joint UN, Ethiopia rights team: all sides committed abuses in Tigray</a>

"Today the Security Council breaks six months of silence and speaks again with one united voice on the deeply concerning situation in Ethiopia," Ireland's UN&nbsp;Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason said in a statement.

"For the first time, the council clearly calls for a cessation of hostilities. We believe this should happen immediately, and that all civilians must be protected," she said.

The United Nations has said that up to 7 million people in the Ethiopian regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar need help, including 5 million in Tigray where some 400,000 people are estimated to be living in famine-like conditions.

The Security Council "called for the respect of international humanitarian law, for safe and unhindered humanitarian access, the re-establishment of public services, and further urged the scaling up of humanitarian assistance."

The UN Security Council on Friday called for an end to the fighting in Ethiopia and for talks on a lasting ceasefire as the 15-member body expressed deep concern in a rare statement about the expansion and intensification of military clashes.

The UN Security Council on Friday called for an end to the fighting in Ethiopia and for talks on a lasting ceasefire as the 15-member body expressed deep concern in a rare statement about the expansion and intensification of military clashes. The council also "called for refraining from inflammatory hate speech and incitement to violence and divisiveness." Also Read Ethiopia declares nationwide emergency as insurgents threaten the capital It had been negotiating a statement for several days and eventually reached a compromise with Russia on the text, diplomats said. Such statements have to be agreed by consensus. Russia and China have long made clear they believe the year-long conflict, which started in the northern region of Tigray, is an internal affair for Ethiopia. Both countries are council veto-powers - along with the United States, Britain and France - so any strong council action, like sanctions, is unlikely. The war, which has killed thousands of people and forced more than two million from their homes, has intensified in recent weeks. With rebels threatening to move on the capital Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian army on Friday called on former troops to rejoin to fight them, state media said. A planned Security Council meeting on Ethiopia on Friday was postponed until Monday, said Mexico's UN Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, council president for November. The statement on Ethiopia - drafted by Ireland, Kenya, Niger, Tunisia and St Vincent and the Grenadines - was only the second by the Security Council in the past year. Also Read | Joint UN, Ethiopia rights team: all sides committed abuses in Tigray "Today the Security Council breaks six months of silence and speaks again with one united voice on the deeply concerning situation in Ethiopia," Ireland's UN Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason said in a statement. "For the first time, the council clearly calls for a cessation of hostilities. We believe this should happen immediately, and that all civilians must be protected," she said. The United Nations has said that up to 7 million people in the Ethiopian regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar need help, including 5 million in Tigray where some 400,000 people are estimated to be living in famine-like conditions. The Security Council "called for the respect of international humanitarian law, for safe and unhindered humanitarian access, the re-establishment of public services, and further urged the scaling up of humanitarian assistance."

UN Security Council calls for end to Ethiopia conflict

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-sees-no-prospect-of-negotiations-with-us-foreign-ministry-222226">Iran's foreign ministry</a> on Tuesday insisted it did not currently see the need for mediation with the United States, as it played down the chances of a military clash with Washington.

Spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a press conference that Tehran "does not feel any tension or (the possibility of) clashes" and said concerns had been "created by others". He told journalists that the Islamic republic "does not presently believe in" mediation.

Iran is locked in a standoff with the United States which has beefed up its military presence in the Middle East in response to alleged threats from the Islamic republic. Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region in a show of force.

The moves are the latest spike since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 deal on Iran's nuclear programme and reimposed sanctions.

Watch:&nbsp;Iran slams Donald Trump over his 'genocidal tauts'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-slams-donald-trump-over-his-genocidal-tauts-220262/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Iran earlier this month rolled back parts of its commitments under the nuclear deal and gave an ultimatum to the remaining world powers involved if they did not provide sanctions relief.

Mousavi warned that if sanctions relief is not offered Tehran "will with severity take the next steps", meaning it could turn its back on more substantial parts of the accord. 
 
The situation between Iran and the US has led a number of countries in the Middle East and others such as Japan and Switzerland to offer to mediate.

Tehran insists that it will not hold direct talks with the US government anytime soon despite Trump saying Washington would "like to talk" if Iran was ready. Mousavi said Iran was "listening to the views of countries" who have offered to mediate but had not received or given any "special message" during a flurry of diplomatic visits in recent weeks.

Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday insisted it did not currently see the need for mediation with the United States, as it played down the chances of a military clash with Washington.

Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday insisted it did not currently see the need for mediation with the United States, as it played down the chances of a military clash with Washington. Spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a press conference that Tehran "does not feel any tension or (the possibility of) clashes" and said concerns had been "created by others". He told journalists that the Islamic republic "does not presently believe in" mediation. Iran is locked in a standoff with the United States which has beefed up its military presence in the Middle East in response to alleged threats from the Islamic republic. Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region in a show of force. The moves are the latest spike since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 deal on Iran's nuclear programme and reimposed sanctions. Watch: Iran slams Donald Trump over his 'genocidal tauts' Iran earlier this month rolled back parts of its commitments under the nuclear deal and gave an ultimatum to the remaining world powers involved if they did not provide sanctions relief. Mousavi warned that if sanctions relief is not offered Tehran "will with severity take the next steps", meaning it could turn its back on more substantial parts of the accord. The situation between Iran and the US has led a number of countries in the Middle East and others such as Japan and Switzerland to offer to mediate. Tehran insists that it will not hold direct talks with the US government anytime soon despite Trump saying Washington would "like to talk" if Iran was ready. Mousavi said Iran was "listening to the views of countries" who have offered to mediate but had not received or given any "special message" during a flurry of diplomatic visits in recent weeks.

Iran says does not 'presently' believe in mediation with US, plays down chances of a military clash

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