BEIRUT, Lebanon - Norwegian Premier Jens Stoltenberg arrived Tuesday in Beirut for a one-day visit where he held talks with his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Seniora. The Norwegian official stressed that "his country supports the democracy of Lebanon and the people of Lebanon," and hoped that the different Lebanese political groups would work together to solve their political differences.

The Norwegian official said his country would grant Lebanon 30 million dollars in aid to help in Lebanese reconstruction and mine- clearing in the country's south.

Norway has expressed readiness to also participate in January 2007 Paris conference to raise financial aid to help Lebanon recover from a 33-day war between the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Israel which caused more than 3.5 billion dollars in damage.

Norway has contributed four patrol boats and 100 personnel to the naval contingent of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon monitoring the country's coast alongside German forces in order to prevent arms shipments to Hezbollah.

Norway has granted already 23 million dollars in immediate humanitarian assistance and oil spill clean-up efforts.

On July 12, Israel launched a wide-scale offensive into Lebanon after Hezbollah snatched two Israeli soldiers from the border area. The war resulted in the deaths of almost 1,200 people, mostly civilians, as well as causing extensive damage to Lebanon's infrastructure and oil spills that polluted the Lebanese coast.

The Norwegian premier will also visit his naval forces during his short stay in Beirut. (DPA)