WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US State Department voiced confidence Friday in how Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government and army were dealing with an offensive by Hezbollah fighters.

"I will restate our unswerving commitment and support for the Siniora government for doing all the right things," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

"We have confidence in the judgment and the decision-making of the government as well as the army," he added.

"We think that the government is exercising sound judgment and in that regard, its use and deployment of the military serve the best interests of the Lebanese people and Lebanon," McCormack said.

"The army is acting in a professionnal manner. They are under the control of the government."

The Lebanese army -- which is made up of Sunnis, Shiites and Christians -- is deployed in force around Beirut, but has been ordered to stay on the sidelines and has not gotten involved in the fighting.

Hezbollah fighters seized control of west Beirut on Friday after three days of deadly street battles with pro-government Sunni Muslim foes pushed Lebanon dangerously close to all-out civil war.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was due Friday to telephone several officials in the Middle East as well as Western allies to bolster support for the Siniora government, McCormack said.

As on Thursday, Rice's spokesman played down the political significance of the armed clashes in Beirut between supporters of the pro-Syrian opposition led by Hezbollah and supporters of the pro-Western government.

"Right now, what you are seeing are armed gangs engaged in illicit acts. ... I am not sure exactly what their targets and objective are but the end result is only to harm the interests of the Lebanese people," he said.

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