UN chief urges cease-fire, says country 'is in flames'

Agency launches $275m humanitarian appeal to help millions of victims over the next 3 months

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate cease-fire in Yemen as he began the hunt for a new peace envoy to the war-torn country, where al-Qaida is expanding its territory.

The plea follows more than three weeks of airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition aimed at driving back rebels whose sweeping advance forced President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee abroad.