The presidents of Syria and Lebanon on Monday announced that the withdrawal of Syrian troops to Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley will be completed by the end of March.

The Syrian President Bashar Assad and Lebanese President Emile Lahoud decided that once Syrian troops complete their withdrawal from northern and central Lebanon to the east, military officials from the two countries will agree within a maximum one month period on the duration and size of the Syrian military deployment remaining in the Bekaa Valley.

The secretary general of Lebanon's Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, says the withdrawal should be a result of plans made by the Lebanese and Syrian governments, rather than compliance with the UN resolution.

"Concerning the Syrian troop deployment in Bekaa valley, the meeting of the Lebanese parties today rejects the Syrian withdrawal to be in accordance with resolution 1559, this should be up to the design of the Lebanese and Syrian government," Hassan Nasrallah said.

Syrian President Assad announced the redeployment on Saturday after weeks of intensifying international pressure to withdraw.

Politicians in the US have reacted cautiously to the pullout announcement.

US Senator Ted Kennedy said that the next 24 to 36 hours were important and the situation would be monitored to determine if Assad kept his word on the withdrawal.

"Well, I think there is a renewed hope in a number of indications in the Arab-Palestine situation and also a new hope in Lebanon and I certainly support the call for the withdrawal of the Syrian troops and it has to be complete," Kennedy said.