Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese counterpart Emile Lahoud on Monday began talks here on the expected pullout of Syrian troops from its tiny neighbour.

The two leaders are widely expected to approve a swift two-phase plan announced Saturday by Assad to pull out its 14,000 troops from Lebanon.

"Syrian troops will completely pull back to Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon and then to the Syrian-Lebanese border," Assad saidin a parliament address.

The withdrawal would start "immediately" after the meeting, Lebanese Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Mrad said on Sunday.

Syria has been under mounting pressure to stop its military and political influence in Lebanon, particularly after former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a huge blast last month.

Washington has repeated its demand for a quick and total pulloutand warned to seek international sanctions.