Swedish minister: The Israeli attacks disproportionate

Several European Union foreign ministers on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire and end to the bloodshed and violence in Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters before the start of the EU foreign minister' meeting in Brussels, Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson said "the images seem to me to be disproportionate."

He said "We all have to send a message that it is dangerous, not only for Lebanese government, but dangerous for regional stability, for the political and economic situation," said Eliasson.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn, replying to a question whether Israeli attacks were justified or not, said: "I don t think we can justify any kind of violence...we have to stop violence, and to give means to the countries of the region to do an immediate ceasefire."

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard R Bot said: "We have to look to both sides; as the G8, we have to look for a balanced declaration today." Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said: "We should do what we can, everybody should be very much conscious that there is a vicious circle of violence and...we all have to stop this circle of violence...the situation is extremely worrying." EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Fererro-Waldner said "certainly we have to find a ceasefire."