German Assistance for Lebanon

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged her country's help to Lebanon in cultivating its democratic institutions.

With a look to upcoming Lebanese presidential elections, Merkel said: "Germany will do what it can to secure the success ... of the process of the election of the president."

The elections are scheduled for Sept. 25.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with Western-back Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in Berlin on Wednesday, Merkel reiterated a call on Syria to recognize Lebanese sovereignty and to "play a constructive part" in establishing stability in Lebanon.

Merkel also called for improved controls along the border with Syria. Damascus has been accused of smuggling weapons to militants in Lebanon -- a charge the Syrian government has denied.

Praise for regaining control of refugee camp

The chancellor praised the Lebanese army's ability to regain control last week of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp from Fatah al-Islam militants.

"It was possible to demonstrate the authority of the Lebanese state there, and I think this was a very important moment for Lebanon," Merkel said at the news conference.

Siniora, for his part, told reporters he would like Germany to help arm and train his country's army so that it can protect the nation from militant groups threatening stability.

The prime minister said his country's army needs support to establish itself as a real "deterrent force." He also asked for help in rebuilding the Nahr al-Bared camp that was battered during three months of fighting.

An estimated 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

Without making any promises of military aid, Merkel said Germany would examine what it could do to assist in reconstruction of the camp located on Lebanon's northern coast.

German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul also met with Siniora and pledged another 2 million euros ($2.7 million) in aid to ease the burden on the estimated 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

The aid will come in addition to 2 million euros to be used primarily for infrastructure improvements that the minister promised on a July trip to Lebanon.

Wieczorek-Zeul said the aid was intended to improve living conditions for the Palestinian refugees, many of whom have lived their entire lives in the camps.

Germany extended maritime task force

Under a 1969 Arab agreement, the Lebanese army was banned from conduction military operations in Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps. That agreement was later annulled, but government forces largely stayed out of the camps until the Nahr al-Bared battle began.

Last month, the German government decided to extend its leadership of the United Nations maritime task force in Lebanon for another year. However, it chose to decrease the maximum number of staff earmarked fort he mission.

German naval units patrol Lebanon's coast to help halt the marine smuggling of arms to the militant Hezbollah movement.