US to pledge $ 770 million in aid for Lebanon

Paris, Jan 25: The United States will pledge nearly 770million dollar in aid to help rebuild Lebanon and bolster its embattledPrime Minister Fouad Siniora in his power struggle with Hezbollah, USofficials said today.

The money, which requires U S congressional approval, will fundbudget support, military equipment and projects to help rebuildLebanese infrastructure shattered in last year's war between Israel andSyrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

''The president will request of the Congress 770 million dollar insupport for Lebanon,'' U S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice toldreporters as she flew to Paris for an international aid donors' meetingtomorrow that could yield billions of dollars for Lebanon.

The United States hopes the money, which comes on top of 230million dollar Washington pledged last year, will strengthen Siniora, aSunni Muslim. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Muslim party, is seeking to oust hisWestern-backed government.

Yesterday, protestors bent on toppling Siniora's cabinet blockedhighways and roads in Lebanon with burning tires and sparked clashesthat killed three people and injured 133.

''Yesterday's events, if anything, make more important a messagefrom the international community that it supports the democraticallyelected government of Lebanon and that there should not be violence orefforts at intimidation to try and make governing more difficult forthe prime minister,'' Rice told reporters travelling with her.

''It was an effort to provoke. It was an effort to intimidate,''she said of the protests, which she called ''irresponsible.'' ''PrimeMinister Siniora is on his way to Paris and I think it shows that hisgovernment is not intimidated,'' she added.

Asked if Hezbollah had the power to topple Siniora, she said: ''Iassume that they would not want to plunge Lebanon into open conflictand to kill lots of innocent Lebanese to pursue their politicalgoals.'' Heavily burdened by debt and struggling to rebuildinfrastructure destroyed by last summer's 34-day war between Israel andHezbollah, the Siniora government badly needs international aid.

According to a senior U S official who spoke on condition ofanonymity, the U S funds will include 250 million dollar in cashtransfers to the Lebanese government that will be tied to economicreforms.

While the conditions have yet to be worked out, they could includeraising taxes, reducing subsidies and taking steps to strengthengovernance, he said.

A further 220 million dollar will help the Lebanese military,possibly by funding such items as small arms ammunition, vehicles,spare parts and training, he said.

The United States will also give 184 million dollar to support theinternational peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, 60 million dollar totrain and equip security forces, 50 million dollar to fundreconstruction-related projects and 5.5 million dollar for de-mining,the U S official said.

Rice said she believed Lebanon would carry out economic reformsdespite its failure to do so in the past and the Siniora government'spolitical weakness.

''It's not going to going to be easy but I think this is also agovernment that has demonstrated its mettle, it's demonstrated that itcan be very resolute and very tough,'' she said. ''It demonstrated thatduring the war.'' Rice plans to meet on Thursday with executives fromprominent U S companies including Intel Corp, Cisco Systems andOccidental Petroleum who plan to announce an effort to create 3,000jobs in Lebanon over the next several years, said another U S officialwho asked not to be named.

She then visits Brussels on Friday for a NATO meeting where she islikely to urge allies to do more militarily and economically forAfghanistan, which is facing a renewed Taliban insurgency.

Reuters>