New U.N. chief urges Security Council to act more to prevent war

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres smiles before the Security Council meeting at the United Nations building in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - New United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Security Council on Tuesday to take more action to prevent conflicts instead of just responding to them as he pledged to build the world body's mediation capacity.

"The United Nations was established to prevent war by binding us in a rules-based international order. Today, that order is under grave threat," Guterres said in his first address to the 15-member council since taking office on Jan. 1.