United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned against “dangerous rhetoric” that would stoke tensions between nuclear-armed rivals.

“Growing divisions threaten world peace and security, provoking new confrontations and making old conflicts all the more difficult to resolve,” Guterres said at a conference in Morocco.

“Dangerous rhetoric increases nuclear tensions,” he warned.

“At the same time, we are getting dangerously close on climate, while hate speech and disinformation are spreading.”

He spoke as Russia’s war in Ukraine approached its tenth month with no end in sight, stoking nuclear fears.

Guterres said “forces of discord” are awakening “old demons” including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

“In this troubled world, we must reduce tensions, promote inclusion and social cohesion, and create more united and resilient societies,” he said.

Guterres was speaking at a meeting of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations aimed at “mobilizing international action against extremism” – the first time the group has met on African soil.

In a statement adopted Tuesday night, the meeting condemned “any advocacy of hate that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

She also expressed “deep concern about the use of new information technologies … for purposes contrary to respect for human values, good neighborliness, equality, non-discrimination and respect for others”, noting the particular vulnerability of children and young people.

The Fez meeting ends on Wednesday. The next edition of the forum will take place in Lisbon in 2024.