UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan welcomed a confidence vote by Lebanon's parliament, formally establishing Lebanon's first post-Syrian-era government, a statement said Saturday.

Annan also pledged UN support for the new government and said he looked forward to implementation of a UN resolution calling for disarmament of the pro-Syrian Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

"The secretary general welcomes the vote of confidence that has formally established Lebanon's new government headed by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora," said a statement from Annan's spokesman.

"He also welcomes the government policy statement outlining an agenda of essential political and economic reforms for Lebanon. This would require the cooperation and commitment of all relevant parties," it said.

"The secretary general extends the support of the United Nations to the new government in meeting the challenges ahead in the best interest of the people of Lebanon.

"He particularly looks forward to progress towards the full implementation of all the requirements of Security Council Resolution 1559 and will continue to work closely with the parties in that regard."

Resolution 1559 calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organization by Washington.

The confidence vote came just before Siniora makes his first official visit abroad on Sunday to Damascus to try to improve relations that have deteriorated after Syria ended its three-decade military presence in Lebanon.

Siniora's line-up, which took weeks of talks and stinging political rows to form, is the first elected government since Syria's troop pullout from its smaller neighbor in April.

His cabinet also includes a minister from the Shiite Muslim fundamentalist movement Hezbollah.

Siniora presented a series of reforms to parliament on Thursday, pledging a program to focus on national reconciliation and democracy.

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