New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday ahead of meetings at UN headquarters on religion and peace that the opportunity it would provide for Arab and Israeli leaders to meet was "quite unique."

Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tipzi Livni were to find themselves in one room if not at the same table for dinner Tuesday with Ban.

New York - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged warring parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo to end hostilities, as he prepared to meet with African Union leaders to discuss the situation there.

The fighting in eastern Congo between government troops and a mixed militia group of the Coalition of Patriots in the Congolese Resistance (PARECO)/Mayi-Mayi and the National Congress in Defence of the People (CNDP) in the Rutshuru area marred a ceasefire agreement from August.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday sent his "warmest congratulations" to president-elect Barack Obama, vowing to work closely with him to resolve global issues.

"These are profound challenges that require collaboration and cooperation," Ban said in the first message to Obama's historic election victory to become the 44th US president.

"Today, Senator Barack Obama is America's choice, I look forward to working with the new administration to fulfil our common goals and objectives," Ban said.

New York - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he was ready to meet with the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to bring an end to the fighting that has created a fresh humanitarian crisis in Congo's provinces.

Ban said he would visit Africa either this week or next week if Congolese President Joseph Kabila and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame were to agree on a meeting somewhere in that continent.

Ban, who had spoken to both leaders, said Kagame and Kabila have begun a dialogue along with their separate teams.

Dhaka - United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said Sunday Bangladesh's military leadership had assured him it would not interfere in politics and the December election will be free and fair.

"I was assured by the military leadership that they will ensure this forthcoming election will be fair, credible and free. They will not interfere in any political process," Ban told reporters in Dhaka.