"I am the Prime Minister of all the Lebanese, those in Cabinet and those outside of Cabinet," Siniora told a press conference Thursday at the Grand Serail.

"Hezbollah is represented in the government and in Parliament and I have very good relations with Hezbollah's ministers." He added at the conference held to announce compensation plans for Lebanese citizens who lost their homes or shops outside the southern suburbs in the latest Israeli offensive on Lebanon.

"We are happy and comfortable with this government. The Lebanese are happy with this government," Siniora said, reiterating that "there will be no change in the government."

Hezbollah and Gen. Michel Aoun have been repeatedly calling for the resignation of Siniora's government and the formation of a national unity government.

Siniora dismissed claims that the ongoing political strain was a result of tensions with Hezbollah. "I do not have tense relations with anyone."

Asked whether a meeting with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah would relieve tensions, the premier said: "Who says that we don't see each other? Not him (Nasrallah) in person. But we don't have to announce that."

In response to Hezbollah official Sheikh Nabil Qaouk's statement last week that the fighters' arms were still present in south Lebanon, Siniora said: "We respect all those who struggled and fought Israel … but the army has instructions to confiscate any weapons found (in the south)."

He said "we want to reinforce the army and train the soldiers according to modern standards," adding that the "army will not be in confrontation with the resistance."

On the compensation issue, Siniora said that 10 percent of the aid to Lebanon has been handed over to the Higher Relief Committee (HRC) and 90 percent to civil institutions.

Siniora said that the HRC would soon issue a detailed report on the accomplishments, the donations received by foreign and local parties and the mechanisms adopted to help the Lebanese since the first day of war.

He added that all donations received by the committee and distributed to the Lebanese were listed on its Web site

Source: Naharnet, Ya Libnan