UNIETD NATIONS, August 19 (Itar-Tass) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an end to the violence in Egypt and promised support.

“I have asked the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Jeff Feltman, to hold wide-ranging discussions in Cairo starting from tomorrow with a focus on how the United Nations can best support initiatives to restore peace and forge reconciliation in Egypt,” Ban said on Monday, August 19.

The secretary-general said he was “alarmed by ongoing developments and the widespread outbreak of violent protests and excessive use of force” and “strongly condemned” attacks on churches, hospitals and other public facilities. “There is no justification for targeting civilians or destroying infrastructure and property so important for Egypt's future,” he said.

Ban stressed that preventing further loss of life should be the highest priority. “I urge all Egyptians to exercise maximum restraint and resolve differences peacefully,” he said.

Hundreds of people were killed as a result of clashes between security forces and supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi last week.