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| Funds pledged for Lebanon summit | Funds pledged for Lebanon summit |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US and France have pledged $1.4bn (£711m; 1.08bn euros) in aid and loans to help rebuild Lebanon, on the eve of a major donors' conference. | The US and France have pledged $1.4bn (£711m; 1.08bn euros) in aid and loans to help rebuild Lebanon, on the eve of a major donors' conference. |
| The announcements came as delegates from Western and Arab countries gathered for the summit in Paris. | The announcements came as delegates from Western and Arab countries gathered for the summit in Paris. |
| Lebanon hopes to raise up to $9bn (£4.57bn; 7bn euros) to help it recover from last year's conflict with Israel and a massive public debt. | Lebanon hopes to raise up to $9bn (£4.57bn; 7bn euros) to help it recover from last year's conflict with Israel and a massive public debt. |
| The summit is taking place amid ongoing anti-government protests in Beirut. | The summit is taking place amid ongoing anti-government protests in Beirut. |
| Three people were killed and more than 100 were injured in some of the worst street violence in Beirut for years on Tuesday, when a general strike brought the country to a standstill. | Three people were killed and more than 100 were injured in some of the worst street violence in Beirut for years on Tuesday, when a general strike brought the country to a standstill. |
| Hezbollah, which called the strike, has warned of more unrest unless Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora steps down. | Hezbollah, which called the strike, has warned of more unrest unless Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora steps down. |
| Debt-laden | Debt-laden |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice promised Lebanon a new $770m aid package (£391m; 594m euros) as she left for the conference. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice promised Lebanon a new $770m aid package (£391m; 594m euros) as she left for the conference. |
| Ms Rice said the pledge would bring the level of US aid to Lebanon since last summer to more than $1bn (£510m; 771m euros). | Ms Rice said the pledge would bring the level of US aid to Lebanon since last summer to more than $1bn (£510m; 771m euros). |
| Hours earlier, French President Jacques Chirac offered to lend Lebanon 500m euros ($648m; £329m) at a concessionary rate, Mr Chirac's spokeswoman said. | Hours earlier, French President Jacques Chirac offered to lend Lebanon 500m euros ($648m; £329m) at a concessionary rate, Mr Chirac's spokeswoman said. |
| The cost of helping Lebanon... is much less than the cost of not helping Lebanon Fouad SinioraLebanese prime minister The European Union is promising another 400m euros ($518m; £263m). | The cost of helping Lebanon... is much less than the cost of not helping Lebanon Fouad SinioraLebanese prime minister The European Union is promising another 400m euros ($518m; £263m). |
| Economists in Beirut say the Paris conference is extremely important, coming at a time when the alarm bells are ringing on the financial markets there. | Economists in Beirut say the Paris conference is extremely important, coming at a time when the alarm bells are ringing on the financial markets there. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says donations and soft loans are needed to generate confidence, stimulate investment and break the circle of public debt that saddled the country with a massive $40bn burden (30.8bn euros; £20.3bn). | |
| Speaking to the BBC, Lebanese Economy Minister Sami Haddad said any money raised would help clear the deficit. | Speaking to the BBC, Lebanese Economy Minister Sami Haddad said any money raised would help clear the deficit. |
| "Most of it will go to reduce the debt and debt service... The grants that we will hopefully receive will reduce the debt principle. | "Most of it will go to reduce the debt and debt service... The grants that we will hopefully receive will reduce the debt principle. |
| "We will probably also get some project finance, ie, funding related to implementing some infrastructure projects." | "We will probably also get some project finance, ie, funding related to implementing some infrastructure projects." |
| Speaking after lunch with Mr Chirac, Prime Minister Siniora warned potential donors that "the cost of helping Lebanon, however expensive that might seem, is much less than the cost of not helping Lebanon". | Speaking after lunch with Mr Chirac, Prime Minister Siniora warned potential donors that "the cost of helping Lebanon, however expensive that might seem, is much less than the cost of not helping Lebanon". |
| Economists say that anything above $3bn or $4bn in soft loans and grants would be good news. | Economists say that anything above $3bn or $4bn in soft loans and grants would be good news. |
| Below that level, he adds, the gathering would be seen as having failed to demonstrate confidence in Lebanon. | Below that level, he adds, the gathering would be seen as having failed to demonstrate confidence in Lebanon. |