MIDDLE EAST
Lebanon was plunged into economic crisis when its huge Intra Bank shut down last month, and the situation is steadily getting worse. For three days all other Lebanese-owned banks were closed; when they reopened, $35 million was withdrawn almost immediately. Virtually none of it has been redeposited in Lebanese banks. Since Intra held 38% of the country's deposits, its continued shutdown has meant a disabling shortage of cash. Lebanese restaurants report up to a 50% falloff in business; in the gambling casinos, the dealers are playing blackjack with one another. Worse, merchants have now lost their credit ratings, must...
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