Syrian soldiers held a picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad as they were withdrawn to the Syria-Lebanon border.(Photo: Xinhua)

The last Syrian troops withdraw from Tripoli, north Lebanon early March 11,2005. Almost all Syrian troops left north Lebanon on Friday, ending an unbroken 29-year presence and underlining Syria's diminishing role in its small neighbor. (Photo: Reuters)

All Syrian troops have completed withdrawal from northern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources said on Friday.

Only one major intelligence office in Lebanon's second largest city of Tripoli remained, said the sources, adding that it could pull out within 24 hours.

Thousands of Syrian troops and military vehicles started withdrawing overnight and all the military positions were evacuatedon Friday, they added.

Altogether 14,000 Syrian troops were deployed in Lebanese territory, but it is unclear exactly how many troops were stationed in the country's northern area.

Under mounting international pressures, Syria agreed with Lebanon on a two-phased withdrawal plan on Monday, which stipulates that Syrian troops move to the eastern Bekaa Valley and then the two sides reach a timeline for the final pullout. Lebanese Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Mrad said Thursday that some 7,000 troops were evacuating and that most of them were moving back to Syria.

Syria sent troops to its small neighbor in 1976 during the country's 1975-1990 civil war.

The UN Security Council passed Resolution 1559 last September,demanding Syria troops to quit Lebanon and stop meddling in the country's affairs.

Anti-Syrian calls were intensified following the Feb. 14 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri as Lebanese opposition groups accused Syria of being behind the bloodshed.