Madrid - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called on rich countries to place the fight against hunger and poverty among their top priorities, urging them to release more funds to that end despite the economic crisis.

"We must all do more," Ban said on closing a two-day United Nations conference on food security in the Spanish capital Madrid.

"History will judge us and our response," he said, welcoming suggestions for a "global partnership" against hunger.

While plans were made for such a partnership, no concrete decisions were taken at the meeting, a German official said. (dpa)