UNITED NATIONS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed his hope for the quick formation of a new Lebanese government following Sunday's elections.

    Ban made separate telephone calls to Lebanese leaders on Tuesday morning, including President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, his spokesperson Marie Okabe said.

    "He congratulated them on the elections and expressed the hope that the formation of the new government will proceed expeditiously and that it will take place in a calm and secure environment," Okabe said.

    "He said that he counts on the new government to proceed with the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701," which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

    In a statement issued by his spokesperson on Monday, Ban congratulated Lebanon on the Sunday elections, urging all Lebanese people to cooperate "in the spirit of coexistence and democracy."