16 nations follow UN ceasefire plea

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said 16 armed groups had responded positively to his appeal for a global ceasefire to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, but mistrust remains high and turning intentions into an end to hostilities is difficult.

He told a news conference that his March 23 call “has resonated widely, with endorsements from 114 governments, diverse regional organizations, religious leaders and more than 200 civil society groups spanning all regions.”