Kuala Lumpur: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the world to restore peace and stability in Myanmar.

The situation in Myanmar is a "never-ending nightmare" and a threat to the security of the region, especially with attacks targeting civilians, Guterres said in a press statement broadcasted on the Cambodia ASEAN website on Saturday, on the sidelines of ASEAN's summit in Cambodia.

He also called on Myanmar's government to listen to the appeals of its people and release political prisoners, as well as to take measures to allow the return of about one million Rohingya minority refugees to their homes.

The UN is cooperating with Indonesia, the upcoming president of ASEAN, to boost the implementation of the peace agreement with Myanmar and restoration of democracy in the country, he added.

On his part, spokesperson of Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a separate press conference that any inner conflict cannot be resolved within a year or two in any country. It will rather take years to end it, he added.

The ASEAN summit is held from 10 to 13 November, with the participation of presidents of member-states, except for Myanmar.

The event is also attended by president of ASEAN's dialogue partners including Japan, China, EU, USA, India, Russia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.