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Live blog update| Beirut explosion

Lebanon's central bank calls for cheap loans at zero interest

Lebanon's central bank has told local banks to offer cheap dollar loans at zero interest to people and businesses impacted by the Beirut port explosion.

The Banque du Liban said loans should be made available to individuals, private businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises and corporations - except real estate developers - to carry out essential repairs to homes and businesses.

The bank added that the loans should carry no interest and should be repaid over five years. In a separate statement, it also instructed money transfer houses to distribute transfers from abroad to Lebanon in dollars.