United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned about the reports of violence and “saddened” by the loss of lives in Nepal.

The secretary-general has urged all to refrain from the use of force, denounce violence and engage in dialogue to resolve the crisis, Ban’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told a press briefing in New York on Wednesday night.

“The UN has supported the Nepali-led peace process, of which a new constitution is an important milestone. The secretary-general is hopeful that the leaders will share again a spirit of compromise,” added Dujarric.

He said the UN office in Nepal was in regular contact with Nepali leaders, urging them to seize this historic opportunity to agree on a dispensation that has the widest popular support.