UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed Shimon Peres's long efforts to forge a deal aimed at fostering peace in Israel and the Middle East, after the statesman's death earlier on Wednesday.

"He worked tirelessly for a two-state solution that would enable Israel to live securely and harmoniously with the Palestinians and the wider region," Ban said of the former Israeli leader who died at 93. 

"Even in the most difficult hours, he remained an optimist about the prospects for reconciliation and peace," Ban added. 

Peres, who shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, died in his sleep after suffering a stroke, drawing tributes from past and present world leaders. 

Ban voiced hope that Peres's determination will "guide us as we work to ensure peace, security and dignity for Israelis, Palestinians and all the peoples of the region."

SourcE: AFP