UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged parties in Sri Lanka on Monday to stop conflicts and resume peace talks, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

    In a statement released by the spokesman, Annan said he is very concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka, and deplores the attack on Saturday on the facilities of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

    "Escalating violence in the past few months has put a severe strain on the cease-fire," Dujarric said, adding "the impact of renewed violence is once again being felt by the civilian population."

    According to the spokesman, the secretary-general stressed that"a return to conflict will not resolve outstanding differences between the parties."

    "He strongly urges the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to shore up the cease-fire, ensure respect for the human rights of all Sri Lankans, and urgently resume their dialogue under the facilitation of the Norwegian Government," Dujarric concluded. Enditem