UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that the United Nations stands ready to extend support and assistance to the new government of Lebanon, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said Monday.

In a statement issued by the spokesman, Annan said "the holding of these elections on time and in a credible manner has been a key element in a transition in which the Lebanese people have been expressing their determination to shape their own future, strengthen political institutions and restore their full sovereignty."

The Secretary-General congratulated the people and government of Lebanon for their successful holding of the polls, noting that preliminary reports, including that of the UN electoral assistance team in Lebanon, indicate that the elections were technically well conducted and credible, and apparently carried out in a free and nonviolent environment.

Annan also commended the outgoing government on the excellent manner in which has handled its electoral responsibilities, saying that the United Nations "stands ready to extend support and assistance to the new government, as and if required."

An independent UN commission is currently in Lebanon investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which roiled tensions in the region and led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops after a series of shuttle missions by Annan's Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.

Source: Xinhua