UN chief 'appalled' by Islamic State's demolition of Palmyra

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 24: UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he was appalled by reports that Islamic State militants had demolished a temple in Syria's ancient Palmyra.

IS fighters packed explosives in the Baal Shamin temple and blew up the shrine on Sunday, Syria's antiquities chief said.

Ban also voiced outrage over the murder of Khaled al-Assaad, the retired chief archeologist at Palmyra whose body was mutilated after he was beheaded on August 18.

"These barbaric acts of terror join a long list of crimes committed over the past four years in Syria against its civilian population and heritage," Ban said in a statement.

Palmyra is listed as a world heritage site by the UN cultural body Unesco, and Ban recalled that destroying world cultural sites was a war crime.

The UN chief called on world governments to "unite and act swiftly to put a stop to this terrorist activity."

Ban asks India, Pak to exercise restraint

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 19: The UN Secretary-Genera, Mr Ban Ki-Moon,l has expresses serious concern about the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, which reportedly resulted in a number of casualties on both sides, including civilians. He has conveyed his condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives.

The Secretary-General also called upon the Governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians.

The Secretary-General urges both countries to continue to address their differences through dialogue.

In that regard, he welcomed the planned meeting between their respective National Security Advisors on August 23 and 24 and expresses the hope that it will lead to positive outcomes.