Finland would send equipment worth some 600,000 euros (US$770,000) to help Lebanon clean up an oil spill caused by Israeli airstrikes on a power plant, Environment Minister Jan-Erik Enestam said yesterday.

"As the country currently holding the EU presidency, Finland calls on all EU countries to provide assistance to the Lebanese government," Enestam said.

Some 15,000 tons of heavy fuel oil spilt into the sea after Israeli planes bombed a power plant in Jiyeh, south of Beirut, last month.

Oil slicks have contaminated beaches along 150 km of the Lebanese coast. The spill is a serious threat to wildlife, especially seabirds and sea turtles, and it also endangers local groundwater supplies.

Like Finland, many EU countries have already offered to aid Lebanon, but there is still an urgent need for more technical assistance.