July 26, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 29, 1427

BEIRUT, July 25: Pressure on the Lebanese pound and a chronic shortage of dollar notes are easing, the central bank governor said on Tuesday, reassuring markets that the economy was withstanding Israel’s devastating military offensive.

“The markets were caught short by the Israeli aggression. The strongest reaction was on the first day. Now, demand is calmer,” Central Bank of Lebanon governor Riad Salameh told AFP in an interview.