What assessment he has made of the prospects for achieving sustainable peace in Lebanon following its recent presidential elections.

The Doha accord and the election of President Sleiman were important steps forward for Lebanon, but the situation remains extremely fragile. It is now vital that a national unity Government be formed as soon as possible. During my recent visit to Lebanon earlier this month, I underlined my strong support for President Sleiman and Prime Minister Siniora, including through $4 million of UK support to the Lebanese security sector that will be so important in rebuilding the confidence of the citizens of that country in their armed forces.

We certainly do need to rebuild confidence, because earlier this year they had gone to the brink, almost reaching civil war. The Doha agreement has proved the way forward, yet the situation remains deeply unstable and tense; indeed, I understand that troops were called out onto the streets of Tripoli today. What more can my right hon. Friend do, particularly in using his good offices, to ensure that a Government are elected at the earliest opportunity? That is the way that we can bring greater stability not only to Lebanon but throughout the middle east.

I know that my hon. Friend has championed the importance of Lebanon not just to the Lebanese people but in terms of security and stability across the middle east, and he is absolutely right to do so. I think that it is the nomination of a Government that is currently held up, and I spoke to Prime Minister Siniora about that when I was in Lebanon and last week, in advance of yesterday's and today's conference in Austria on the rebuilding of the Palestinian refugee camps. The nomination of the Government will take place and, next year, there will also be elections for a new Government. I very much hope that all the parties will recognise their interest in pursuing a stable strategy in advance of those elections, and in allowing them to take place in conditions as close to normality—certainly without violence—as possible.