Supporting Lebanon

More than 40 countries and international organizations took part in the one-day meeting to raise funds to help rebuild the war-scarred country and shore up Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's Western-backed government.

"The amount raised totals a little over 7.6 billion dollars," said the French leader, who is hosting the conference. Chirac opened the meeting with an appeal to help Lebanon where "terrible confrontations have brought death and destruction."

"A very substantial and immediate financial support from the international community is absolutely indispensable," he added.

Siniora also appealed for the international community's help in solidifying Lebanon's economy after the summer's war between Hezbollah and Israel. The country's public debt has reached $41 billion, more than 180 percent of gross domestic product.

"We are on the verge of a deep recession as a result of the Israeli aggression," Siniora said. "Your support will be essential in seeing Lebanon through. The cost of failure is too great to contemplate."

Saudi Arabia, US, EU among donors

Saudi Arabia pledged $1.1 billion in aid to Lebanon, reaching out to its fellow Sunnis in power in Beirut, and the United States put $770 million to the aid effort.

German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said Germany offered 103 million euros worth of support, mainly intended to fund reconstruction efforts.

"We want to help the people in an extensive and effective way and stabilize the political situation in Lebanon," she said.

France announced a 500 million euro loan and the European Commission pledged 400 million euros in aid.

Tensions increasing

The meeting was held two days after protests led by the Syrian-backed Hezbollah opposition erupted into violence, leaving three people dead and fueling fears Lebanon could slide back into the civil strife that wracked the country in decades past.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was concerned about the escalating crisis between the Lebanese government and the opposition.

"I am very concerned over the continuation of the Lebanese crisis, and we should not permit the return of fighting," he was quoted as telling the London-based al-Hayat newspaper. "This crisis cannot be resolved except through dialog between the government and the opposition, and this is an issue that cannot be decided except by the Lebanese people and their political leaders."

The German minister, whose country currently hold the rotating EU presidency, also urged Syria to "respect Lebanon's full sovereignty and to pursue a constructive and positive behavior in dealing with peace efforts with Israel and the Palestinians."

Syria must respect Lebanese sovereignty

Chirac asserted that all UN resolutions must be implemented to restore Lebanon's full sovereignty while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on "Lebanon's neighbors to fully respect its unity, independence and sovereignty."

Lebanon has been in a state of political deadlock since six pro-Syrian ministers, including two from Hezbollah, walked out of Siniora's government last November.

Hezbollah has denounced Siniora as a puppet of the West and is seeking to topple his government or force a power-sharing deal that would leave the Iranian- and Syrian-backed movement and its allies with veto power in cabinet.