The UN Secretary-General and his Arab League counterpart are appealing for warring parties in Syria to observe a cease-fire during one of the holiest holidays in the Muslim calendar. In a statement on Friday, the two leaders also called on regional and international actors to support the appeal which was made by their Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi. Brahimi this week called for a cease-fire during Eid Al-Adha, the festival celebrated at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which is scheduled to begin on 26 October. UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky read the joint statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby. The two leaders said the cease-fire and cessation of all violence would allow Syrians to observe the religious holiday in peace and security.