71.   US President Bill Clinton on Tuesday urged international lenders to grant a loan of nine billion dollars to Russia.

72.   World Bank external affairs officer Peter Stephens said the loan was granted on the assumption that Subic would continue to function as a free port.

73.   It said that the decision does not endanger its development projects and that the whole loan would be granted by a consortium of private banks.

74.   Officials said setting up industrial zones was more effective than simply granting loans, as the funds would soon be spent while the industrial zones could thrive for long.

75.   President Bill Clinton has urged the international lending organization to grant the loan.

76.   Several MPs on Tuesday urged the government to grant loans to Kuwaitis that have been earmarked for developing countries.

77.   The bank, with a capital of nine billion dollars, grants soft loans to member states to assist their development and help them overcome financial difficulties.

78.   The central bank also allowed banks to grant loans to firms set against shares.

79.   The government document said the price increases were in line with demands made by the International Monetary Fund for granting loans to Armenia.

80.   The loan was granted for expanding the privatisation of public utilities, major industrial companies and banks, as well as helping loss-making state-owned companies.