DAMASCUS, July 31: Lebanon’s new prime minister, Fouad Siniora, headed to Damascus on Sunday, a day after his cabinet won a confidence vote in parliament.

Leading Lebanon’s first government since Syria ended its 29-year military presence there in April amid furious anti-Syrian protests, Siniora will meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to try to improve relations.

He will also try to persuade Syria to loosen tough border controls that have brought Lebanese overland exports to a near standstill in recent weeks.

Syria says the curbs are a security measure after customs officials found explosives on a truck bound for its territory. Many Lebanese see the step as retaliation for the anti-Syrian sentiment unleashed by the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a Beirut car bombing in February.

Many Lebanese blamed Syria, which kept a tight grip on its tiny neighbour’s politics after the 1975-1990 civil war, for the killing. Damascus denies any role.

The cabinet led by Siniora, finance minister under Hariri and long-time aide of the slain construction tycoon, won 92 votes of confidence in the 128-member parliament dominated by opponents of Damascus for the first time since the war ended.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the vote of confidence late on Saturday.—Reuters