Photo stories: Ban Ki-moon visits Middle East

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) holds a meeting with Amre Moussa (second from left), Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. According to Ban, they discussed how to attain an immediate ceasefire and to further secure humanitarian relief. (14 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) and Mahmoud Abbas (second from right), President of the Palestinian National Authority walk to the venue of their joint press conference. Ban reported that he had very constructive discussions with the Palestinian leadership. (16 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (second from left) inspects the honour guard of the Korean Battalion (ROKBATT) serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). (17 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon. Ban addressed Lebanon's Parliament and paid tribute to the country's "unwavering desire for progress through dialogue." (17 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (second from right) is fitted with a flack jacket as he prepares to enter the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to tour the facilities damaged in the fighting. (20 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) holds a discussion with Bashar al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic. Ban met with President Assad in Damascus and called for "those who have influence on Hamas to use it." (18 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) informally briefs correspondents travelling with him on the aircraft, en route to Damascus. (18 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers remarks during a press conference in front of a damaged warehouse belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Headquarters. (20 January 2009)

A warehouse facility damaged during the recent fighting located on the grounds of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Headquarters. (20 January 2009)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) greets Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel. Ban expressed his relief that Israel had declared a unilateral ceasefire, and reiterated his hopes for a just and comprehensive settlement to the long-festering Arab-Israeli conflict. (20 January 2009)