BEIRUT, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese cabinet on Tuesday announced Wednesday to be a national mourning day with flags across the country lowered to half mast to show solidarity with the Gaza Strip.

    The cabinet decided to donate 1 million U.S. dollars to help destitute Palestinians in Gaza, home to some 1.4 million population, during their meeting chaired by President Michel Suleiman, according to local LBC TV.

    The cabinet also decided to launch a national contribution campaign to help the devastated Palestinians, it added.

    Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Tareq Mitri said the cabinet agreed on the call for holding an Arab summit.

    "Lebanon' s participation in the summit is unconditional," Mitri told reporters.

    Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora Sunday asked U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to help end the Gaza tragedy, which has claimed 369 Palestinians and wounded 1,700 others since Israel launched the massive strikes on Saturday, Naharnet website reported.

    The Lebanese president has been carrying out contacts with Qatari leaders to reach a unified Arab stand. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has called for a meeting of Arab Parliamentarian Union in south Lebanon to discuss the developments in Gaza.