UN chief appeals for restraint in Kashmir Valley

United Nations, Sep 22 (PTI) UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon has called for an immediate end to violence in
the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and appealed for
restraint by all parties, his spokesperson said Wednesday.
"The Secretary-General regrets the latest loss of
life. He (Ban) calls for an immediate end to violence
and urges calm and restraint by all concerned," Martin Nesirky
told journalists, adding that Ban was "closely following
events".
The Kashmir Valley remains under a relaxed curfew
after months of persistent clashes between demonstrators and
security personnel, which have claimed more than 100 lives.
The statement comes almost a month after UN sent out
an email, which said that Ban called on "all concerned to
exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully" and
he "encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of the
composite dialogue".
Following protests by the Indian government, the UN
withdrew the remarks and described it as "media guidance" and
not a "statement by the Secretary-General". PTI BS
SAK