Lebanon's future at stake: French president tells donor conference

World powers have a duty to support the Lebanese people after a massive blast devastated their capital as the country's future is at stake, French President Emmanuel Macron told an emergency donors conference on Sunday.

Lebanon's debt-laden economy was already mired in crisis and reeling from the coronavirus pandemic before the port explosion, which killed 158 people. But foreign governments are wary about writing blank cheques to a government perceived by its own people to be deeply corrupt.

In opening remarks to an online donor conference he co-organised, Macron said the international response should be coordinated by the United Nations