GERMANY WAS ATTEMPTING SATURDAY A WIDESCALE DIPLOMATIC BID TO HELP RESOLVE THE ESCALATING SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, DPA REPORTED. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER SAID SATURDAY THAT CALMING THE SITUATION IN LEBANON WAS A "TOP PRIORITY" ON HIS ARRIVAL IN CAIRO AS THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SENT SPECIAL TEAMS TO BEIRUT, DAMASCUS AND NEW YORK. STEINMEIER SAID 800 GERMANS HAD SO FAR BEEN EVACUATED FROM SOUTHERN LEBANON AND THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WAS CHARTERING A PASSENGER FERRY TO BRING GERMAN AND EU CITIZENS FROM TYRE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON TO CYPRUS ON MONDAY.