Hizbollah held talks with IMF,EU: Report

Hizbollah has held talks with IMF and EU as it seeks to secure continued financial support for Lebanon if the alliance it leads was to win next months parliamentary elections,a media report said.

Lebanon8217;s Shia militant group Hizbollah has held talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union,as the entity looks to get continued financial support for the country in case the alliance led by it wins the parliamentary elections,says a media report.

8220;Lebanons Hizbollah has held talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union as it seeks to secure continued financial support for Lebanon if the alliance it leads was to win next months parliamentary elections,8221; The Financial Times has reported.

The daily said that discussions between Hizbollah and the donors comes amid rising concern that a 8220;heavily indebted economy could come under severe strain if the current pro-western parliamentary majority was to lose the June 7 elections8221;.

Quoting Ali Fayad,a Hizbollah candidate who also heads the partys think-tank,the report said that he has warned against punishing Lebanon economically if elections favoured the opposition.

The Financial Times attributing to Fayad said that his party was nonetheless considering the economic risks and discussing such prospects with the EU and the IMF.

According to the report,the EU has said that it makes no distinction between Hizbollah and other parties in Lebanon,and would work with any democratically elected government. The EU has been providing about USD 84 million a year to Lebanon.

8220;The IMF,with an assistance programme of USD 114 million,also says it has met Hizbollah parliamentarians and officials from its economic think-tank as part of its normal work in Lebanon.

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8220;But its financial assistance ends soon and another programme will depend on a decision by the fund8217;s executive board,8221; the report published online noted.

The report added that the Beirut government has benefited from the international support of Gulf states and western governments as it has sought to curb the powers of Hizbollah.

8220;A victory by Hizbollah and its allies would be seen as a boost to Syria and Iran,the group8217;s backers. It could lead the US and other supporters of the current parliamentary majority to reconsider economic support for Lebanon,8221; the publication said.

8220;Washington considers Hizbollah a terrorist organisation but the group is seen by much of the Arab world as a resistance movement against Israel,8221; the daily noted.