Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) talks with UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen in Aleppo,
northern Syria, March 12, 2005. Syria was committed to a full withdrawal of
troops and intelligence personnel from neighboring Lebanon, Roed-Larsen said
after talking with Bashar al-Assad Saturday.
(Xinhua Photo/SANA)
A U.N. envoy said on Saturday that President Bashar al-Assad was committed to
a full withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence personnel from Lebanon and
was providing details of the timetable at the United Nations next week.
U.N. envoy Terje Roed-Larsen did not give any details after meeting with
Assad in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
"I am much encouraged by President Assad's commitment to the full
implementation of Security Council resolution 1559," Terje Roed-Larsen said
after meeting Assad.
Facing intense global pressure, Assad said last week Syria would withdraw its
troops from Lebanon in two phases, first pulling back to eastern Lebanon by
March 31, then agreeing with the Lebanese on the timing of a full withdrawal.
By Friday, Syrian troops had completed withdrawal from northern Lebanon.