(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
Saudi Arabia and France are promising massive financial support for the Lebanese army, as the country struggles to stop violence spreading over the border from neighbouring Syria.
The promises follow the killing of a prominent critic of the Syrian government in a bomb attack in Beirut.
Tension is also rising as Israel responds to rockets fired across the border from Lebanon.
Marina Freri reports.
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In a televised address, Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman has announced Saudi Arabia will give the Lebanese army US $3 billion.
Mr Suleiman says it's the largest grant ever given to the country's armed forces.
"The king of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is offering this generous and appreciated aid of $3 billion to the Lebanese army to strengthen its capabilities and allow it to have modern and new weapons that fits with its needs and aspirations."
Lebanon, which is still rebuilding after its own 15-year civil war, has seen clashes between gunmen loyal to opposing sides of the Syrian conflict spreading over its border.
But the Lebanese army is also said to be ill-equipped to deal with internal militant groups, particularly the Shi'ite Muslim guerrilla and political movement, Hezbollah.
The Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia may be seeking to bolster the Lebanese army as a counterbalance to Hezbollah.
And after meeting the Saudi king, French President Francois Hollande announced the $3 billion grant will be used to buy French equipment.
"Why? Because as I said Lebanon must remain united, its integrity must be respected, its security must be guaranteed, for all the Lebanese, for all components of Lebanese, for Lebanon as a whole. So I have relations with President Suleiman and if demands are made to us we will satisfy them."
The deal comes as Lebanon mourns the killing of a politician in a car bombing in Beirut last week.
Mohammad Chatah, a former Sunni Muslim Finance Minister, died along with six others.
Mr Chatah was seen as an influential figure in the anti-Syrian coalition, called March 14, which has blamed Hezbollah for the attack.
Although Hezbollah denies any involvement, former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora says the March 14 group will launch peaceful protests against it.
"We are still committed to our decision that we will face and we will confront. We are seekers of freedom and people of cause and justice. We have decided to march with the peaceful people of Lebanon towards a peaceful civic and democratic resistance."
The Australian Lebanese Muslim Association describes Mr Chatah's death as a great loss.
Association secretary, Khaled Alamedine says his community is still in shock.
"We believe this man was a great man in Lebanon, (one with) that mentality that is going to bring the country forward. So we feel very sorry, we feel down on hearing this assassination of him. Condolences to the whole country in losing a great man such him."
Meanwhile, tension has also spiked on the border between Israel and Lebanon.
The Israeli military has fired a barrage of shells into southern Lebanon in retaliation after five rockets were launched against the Jewish state.
The attacks struck uninhabited areas of both Israel and Lebanon without causing any casualties or damage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accusing Hezbollah of being behind the rocket fire and has threatened an even tougher response to any further attacks.
"We do not allow drizzle and we respond forcefully. When needed, we take action first. We hold the government of Lebanon responsible for firing which comes from inside its territory. What happens in Lebanon is that Hezbollah deploys thousands of missiles of rockets inside apartments in the heart of the civilian population. Thus committing two war crimes at the same time."
The United Nations is calling on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and prevent further incidents that may destabilise the region.
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