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Lebanon to Announce State of Economic Emergency, Plan to Accelerate Reforms

Reuters

   BEIRUT - Lebanon will declare an economic emergency and the government
   has begun work on a plan to accelerate public finance reforms, its
   prime minister said Monday.

   Saad al-Hariri also said the policy of keeping stable the Lebanese
   pound, which is pegged to the dollar, would continue.

   Cabinet ministers, politicians and lawmakers who met Monday reached
   consensus on an outline for a plan that would put public finances and
   the economy on a more sustainable path, Hariri said.

   "There is agreement to announce a state of economic emergency," Hariri
   said.

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