BEIRUT - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon arrived in Lebanon on Thursday for a two-day visit set to focus largely on economic issues.
Fillon, accompanied by Defence Minister Herve Morin and a delegation of businessman, will meet President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and business leaders.

On Friday, he will travel to southern Lebanon, where French troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon are stationed. During his visit, Fillon is set to announce the release of 125 million euros that are part of a 500-million-euro loan promised by Paris in 2007. The money was pledged for reconstruction following the devastating 2006 summer war between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel. The French premier was last in Lebanon in June when he accompanied President Nicolas Sarkozy on a visit aimed at offering support to the newly elected Sleiman.