THE EUROPEAN UNION CALLED ON MONDAY FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SAID IT WOULD CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE FOR SOUTH LEBANON IF ONE CAME INTO BEING, ACCORDING TO REUTES. EU FOREIGN MINISTERS AVOIDED THE TERM "CEASEFIRE" BUT AGREED ON A JOINT STATEMENT WHICH DIPLOMATS SAID PUT GREATER ONUS ON ISRAEL TO HALT ITS STRIKES THAN A DECLARATION BY THE GROUP OF EIGHT MAJOR POWERS AT THEIR WEEKEND SUMMIT IN ST PETERSBURG. "THE (EU) COUNCIL...DEPLORES THE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES ON ALL SIDES," IT SAID. "THESE DEVELOPMENTS POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE REGION. (THE EU) CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF ABDUCTED SOLDIERS AND AN IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES."
