A delegation from the European Parliament's European Left parties left Athens on Monday for Beirut for mediation of the current Middle East crisis. It was the European Union's first large delegation to visit Lebanon.

The aims of the delegation were to express solidarity with the people of Lebanon, assist the humanitarian efforts in the region, and to voice the Europeans' demand for peace, the delegation said.

Greece's Left Party leader Alekos Alavanos told reporters that one of their goals was to be better informed regarding the current Midle East situation so that new initiatives could be taken to the European and national parliaments, in order that a large peace movement could be generated, "similar to what we saw in the days of the Iraq war in all the European countries in order to be able to move the European governments from their negative positions."

He also said an appeal signed by 500 celebrities from all the European countries would be released soon, demanding the immediate cessation of hostilities.

Alavanos said that international forces should be sent only within the framework of the United Nations.

The European Left parties also urged the immediate cessation of hostilities in accordance with international law and the UN principles, release of the captives by all sides and Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and Gaza.