Chirac says Lebanon protests could deter donors
Source: Reuters
PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac said on Tuesday anti-government protests in Lebanon could discourage the international community from granting financial aid to Beirut at a donors' conference scheduled for Thursday. Chirac said in an interview with France 24 television and Lebanese television that Lebanon's financial situation was "very serious, very grave", adding: "practically, the Lebanese government has no more money." Protesters bent on toppling Lebanon's cabinet blocked highways and roads with blazing tyres on Tuesday, sparking clashes with government loyalists in which three people were killed and 133 people hurt, police said. "Lebanon has an urgent need to be financially supported and helped," Chirac said. "It is clear that the behaviour ... of those who are using it to create social difficulties at the same moment when we are gathering for this conference, does not encourage those who want to help to give Lebanon the means to survive," he said Donor countries are expected to pledge money, possibly in the billions of dollars, for Lebanon's debt-laden economy at Thursday's conference in Paris.
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