Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked Brazil to join international efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza.

Ahmadinejad's request was contained in a letter addressed to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Mohammad Abbasi is Iran's minister of cooperatives. He told reporters that Ahmadinejad asked Silva to help "create an international network aimed at re-establishing peace in the region as quickly as possible."

Abbasi delivered the letter on Friday, and said he would take the same message to Bolivian and Ecuadorean leaders.