Saniora leaves for donor conference in France

A day after violence engulfed Beirut and other areas, embattled Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora left early Wednesday for France to attend an international donors' conference aimed at raising billions of dollars in aid to rebuild after the devastation caused by last summer's Lebanon war. Saniora flew from Beirut airport to Paris on a private jet accompanied by three members of his government which is facing stepped up protests by the Hizbullah-led opposition to topple it. At least three people were killed and dozens injured Tuesday as Hizbullah-led protesters burned tires and cars and clashed with government supporters, paralyzing Beirut and areas across Lebanon in the worst violence yet in the pro-Iranian group's campaign to oust Saniora's US-backed government.