UNITED NATIONS, May 7 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon called on all sides in Thailand to join hands in order to " seek a solution through constructive dialogue," a UN spokesperson told reporters here Wednesday.

Vannina Maestracci, the associate UN spokesperson, said at a daily news briefing here that "the secretary-general had been informed of decision by the Constitutional Court of Thailand to remove Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine other cabinet members from office."

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday ordered Yingluck to step down for abusing power in a personnel transfer in 2011, prolonging a political crisis that has led to violent protests.

Nine other caretaker cabinet members were also removed from office for their involvement in the transfer of Thawil Pliensri from the post of secretary general of the National Security Council in 2011, according to the court ruling.

The spokesperson said, "More than ever, the secretary-general appeals to all sides to work together to seek a solution through constructive dialogue."

"The secretary-general will continue to follow the situation in the country closely, with the hope that all sides will exercise utmost restraint and show full respect for democratic principles, rule of law and human rights," she added.