UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the United Nations and the League of Arab States (AL) on Friday called for a brief ceasefire in conflict-torn Syria during the upcoming Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.
"The secretaries-general of the United Nations and of the League of Arab States appeal to all warring parties in Syria to heed the call of the Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi for a ceasefire and a cessation of all violence in all its forms during the period of Eid al-Adha, to allow the Syrian people to observe this important religious holiday in peace and security," said a joint statement read out to the press here by UN Secretary- general Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky.
In their joint statement, the two leaders also called on all regional and international actors to support their appeal, adding that such a step needs to be sustained.
"It could create the space to allow a peaceful political process that realizes the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for democracy, equality and justice," said the statement.
"The longer the violence lasts, the more difficult it will be to find a political solution and rebuild Syria," it added.
According to the statement, the leaders urged all parties in Syria to show wisdom and vision and stop the killing and destruction, so that all the issues, however complex, can be addressed through peaceful means.
"The secretaries-general call on all Syrian, regional and international parties to take the necessary measures to ensure the success of Brahimi's efforts," it said.
During a visit to Tehran on Sunday, Brahimi appealed to Iranian leaders to help arrange a ceasefire in Syria during the Eid al- Adha festival, which begins on Oct. 26 and lasts four days.
The UN-AL joint special envoy for Syria said in Jordan on Friday that he hoped a ceasefire would "allow us to build upon it a real truce."
Brahimi, who has just arrived in Damascus, will meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Saturday in a bid to broker a truce between government and opposition forces next week.
The Syrian government gave a guarded welcome to the proposal, but stressed that any initiative must be respected by both sides.
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