de Rossa leads peace delegation

Labour MEP Prionsias de Rossa is one of 20 members of the European Parliament leading a peace delegation to the UN and US Congress this week to discuss the Iraqi crisis.

The delegation will meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Senator Edward Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi, the democratic leader in the House of Representatives.

Prionsias de Rossa says the EU delegation will make a number of key points on their US visit.

"War is not necessary or inevitable and the people here have clearly said that they want the crisis in Iraq to be resolved peacefully.

"But we will be presenting a petition of over 300 European parliamentarians to the people we are meeting and urging them to give all the time necessary to the inspectors."