Vienna, June 23, SPA -- Lebanese and Palestinian leaders appealed to theinternational community to fund the reconstruction of a destroyedPalestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, as a donor conference opened inVienna on Monday. "We have to rebuild the camp, but also to rebuild relationshipsbetween Lebanese and Palestinians," Lebanese premier Fouad Siniorasaid in his statement quoted by DPA. The Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon was largely destroyedin summer of 2007, when Lebanese government units fought extremists who had taken control of the camp. Around 33,000 refugees were evacuated before fighting began. "We cannot afford to bear the additional burdens", Siniora said in his appeal for international funds to reconstruct a new town for 27,000 refugees, complete with schools, health facilities and UN infrastructure. Rebuilding Nahr al-Bared is estimated to last one and a half yearsat a cost of 282 million dollars, according to the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). "The incidents in Nahr al-Bared camp confirm that the basic pillarfor resolving issues of extremism and terrorism at the regional andinternational level requires an urgent and just resolution to thePalestinian question," Palestinian Premier Salam Fayad said. Representatives from 70 states are attending the one-day meetingco-hosted by the Austrian government.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/567737