UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon rings the Peace Bell in commemoration of the 26th International Day of Peace at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2007. (Xinhua/Hou Jun) Photo Gallery>>>

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for a one-day global cease-fire on Friday as he rang the Peace Bell at the UN Headquarters to mark the International Day of Peace.

    "I call for a day of global cease-fire: a twenty-four hour respite from the fear and insecurity that plague so many places," Ban said at the ritual ringing of the Peace Bell, a gift from Japan cast from the pennies donated by children from 60 nations.

    "I urge all countries and all combatants to honor a cessation of hostilities. I urge them to ponder the high price that we all pay because of conflict. I urge them to vigorously pursue ways to make this temporary cease-fire permanent," the UN chief added.

    "Peace is the highest calling of the United Nations - and for me personally," Ban said. "Peace defines our mission. It drives our discourse. And it draws together all of our world wide work, from peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy to promoting human rights and development."

    The International Day of Peace was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 as a day of global cease-fire and nonviolence. The General Assembly called for people around the world to use the day as an opportunity to promote the resolution of conflict and to observe a cessation of hostilities during the day.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon observes the silence for the war victims during a ceremony in commemoration of the 26th International Day of Peace at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2007. (Xinhua/Hou Jun) Photo Gallery>>>