UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that the situation in the Middle East "could spiral beyond anyone's control."

"It is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations," the UN chief said in a statement on the Middle East.

All the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region -- and pose a grave risk to the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people, Guterres said.

"The stakes could not be higher," he added. ■