US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale told reporters "long term assistance" to Lebanon will depend on a government program of "reform and change."
Hale, who visited Beirut last week, is the highest ranking US official to visit Beirut since the Aug. 4 blast, which killed more than 170 people, injured thousands more and plunged Lebanon into a fresh political crisis. The United States has offered more than $17 million in initial relief aid, but like other donor governments, wants to see the small Mediterranean country enact a long list of policy changes before releasing further funds.