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Donors in aid boost for Lebanon Donors in aid boost for Lebanon
(40 minutes later)
Foreign donors have pledged $7.6bn (£3.5bn) in aid and loans for Lebanon at a conference in Paris, French President Jacques Chirac has said.Foreign donors have pledged $7.6bn (£3.5bn) in aid and loans for Lebanon at a conference in Paris, French President Jacques Chirac has said.
Lebanon has been struggling to rebuild following last year's conflict between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israel. Lebanon has been struggling to rebuild following last summer's conflict between Hezbollah militants and Israel.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that without outside help Lebanon could face an uncertain future.Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that without outside help Lebanon could face an uncertain future.
The help comes in the form of aid and loans from donors including the US, France, the EU and Saudi Arabia.The help comes in the form of aid and loans from donors including the US, France, the EU and Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon had hoped to receive up to $9bn in pledges.Lebanon had hoped to receive up to $9bn in pledges.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan in Paris says Lebanon's political instability has not deterred the international community from pledging money to rebuild the damaged country.
She says Lebanon is currently $41bn in debt and Mr Siniora's fragile government has had to promise financial reforms which are unpopular at home to get some of this money.
But the Paris pledges will help repair some of the damage done by last summer's conflict, our correspondent adds.
The Paris forum came against a backdrop of violence in Lebanon:
  • Clashes erupted as troops tried to break up fighting between students for and against the government at Beirut Arab University. One student was shot dead and several were injured
  • Lebanese soldiers and Islamist gunmen exchanged fire near Ain el-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. At least one soldier and two civilians were hurt
  • In Tripoli, northern Lebanon, government loyalists and opposition followers exchanged fire after the funeral of a man killed in protests in the city a day earlier, wounding at least one person
    • 'Brink of recession'
    Mr Chirac told delegates he was "overjoyed" at the amount pledged, eliciting loud applause.
    In his opening comments, Mr Siniora thanked the participants from some 40 countries for their support.In his opening comments, Mr Siniora thanked the participants from some 40 countries for their support.
    "Your support to our medium-term programme in the form of contributions and loans at concessionary rates with considerable front-loading that extends over the programme's duration is what is needed," he said."Your support to our medium-term programme in the form of contributions and loans at concessionary rates with considerable front-loading that extends over the programme's duration is what is needed," he said.
    DONORS' PLEDGES US: $1bn (inc new $770m) France: $650m EU: $520mSaudi Arabia: $1.1bnWorld Bank: $1bnEIB: $1.25bn Rebuilding LebanonDONORS' PLEDGES US: $1bn (inc new $770m) France: $650m EU: $520mSaudi Arabia: $1.1bnWorld Bank: $1bnEIB: $1.25bn Rebuilding Lebanon
    "Failure to achieve the programme's objectives could well jeopardise the broader goals of political and social stability and a strong democratic system.""Failure to achieve the programme's objectives could well jeopardise the broader goals of political and social stability and a strong democratic system."
    He said Lebanon, which had been on the path to economic recovery before the conflict, was "now on the verge of a deep recession". He said Lebanon, which had been on the path to economic recovery before the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, was "now on the verge of a deep recession".
    President Chirac said Lebanon was being reborn from the ashes and needed the international community's support.President Chirac said Lebanon was being reborn from the ashes and needed the international community's support.
    "We know that financial stability is essential for political stability in Lebanon and so controlling the debt levels which after the hostilities of last year amounted to 180% of the entire national wealth is the first and most urgent task to be tackled," he said."We know that financial stability is essential for political stability in Lebanon and so controlling the debt levels which after the hostilities of last year amounted to 180% of the entire national wealth is the first and most urgent task to be tackled," he said.
    France has offered to lend Lebanon $650m at a concessionary rate, while the European Union is promising another $520m in new aid and loans.France has offered to lend Lebanon $650m at a concessionary rate, while the European Union is promising another $520m in new aid and loans.
    US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed the promise of a new $770m aid package (to be approved by the US Congress), saying the pledge would bring the level of US aid to Lebanon since last summer to more than $1bn. Lebanon needs billions of dollars to recover from years of war and debtUS Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed the promise of a new $770m aid package (to be approved by the US Congress), saying the pledge would bring the level of US aid to Lebanon since last summer to more than $1bn.
    Saudi Arabia in turn pledged an additional $1.1bn in aid ($1bn in development funding and an extra $100m gift to the government), while the World Bank and the European Investment Bank announced more than $2bn in aid.Saudi Arabia in turn pledged an additional $1.1bn in aid ($1bn in development funding and an extra $100m gift to the government), while the World Bank and the European Investment Bank announced more than $2bn in aid.
    Debt-laden The amount pledged on Wednesday eclipses the $4.2bn offered at a previous donors' conference for Lebanon in Paris in 2002.
    Large parts of Lebanon's infrastructure were destroyed during Israel's attempt to wipe out Hezbollah last year. Large parts of Lebanon's infrastructure were destroyed during Israel's attempt to wipe out Hezbollah last year, after Hezbollah militants kidnapped and killed several Israeli troops.
    Mr Siniora has powerful friends abroad but faces protests at homeThe country is also heavily indebted from the effects of 15 years of civil war in the 1970s and 80s. The country is also heavily indebted from the effects of 15 years of civil war in the 1970s and 80s.
    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, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.
    The Paris forum comes amid various clashes back in Lebanon:
    • Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist gunmen exchanged fire near a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Security officials said members of a small Islamist group opened fire on the troops as army units deployed outside the Ain el-Helweh camp, near the southern port city of Sidon The soldiers returned fire. It was the second such incident this month
  • In Tripoli, northern Lebanon, government loyalists and opposition followers exchanged fire after the funeral of a man killed in protests in the city a day earlier, wounding at least one person
    • On Tuesday, three people were killed and more than 100 were injured in some of the worst street violence in Beirut for years, when a general strike brought the country to a standstill.
    The Islamic Hezbollah movement, which called the strike, has warned of more unrest unless Mr Siniora steps down.