"Today we must all pray that the war will be short and as bloodless as possible and that it will bring the least possible disruption to the region," he said.

Prodi said the commission, the executive body of the 15-member European Union (EU), urges all members states to "strive to build on what we share in our approach to the conflict now commencing."

"It is time to draw the lessons from this crisis. Europe can make an effective contribution to peace in the world only if its nations pull together within the European Union," the statement said.

"The onslaught of war has put paid to the international community's efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis within the United Nations," he added.

US President George W. Bush announced Wednesday night that he has ordered military strikes against Iraq but the war is still in early stages, and buildings of the Iraqi leadership were attacked in the US air raids on the capital of Baghdad Thursday morning.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)