Italy cancels Haiti's debt

The Italian government will cancel the debt of 40 million owed to Italy announced Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Rome today.

"We are ready from now to cancel Haiti's debt to Italy," Frattini said on his arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport after returning from a mission in Africa.

The cancellation, he said, may represent a "first step for the beginning of reconstruction" of the Caribbean island devastated by the earthquake that has claimed tens of thousands dead.

Italy has already announced a shipment of five million euros to aid necessities.

Now for other countries to follow...?