Syrian troops continue withdrawal from Lebanon
30/3/2005 11:50
Syrian troops continued on Tuesday its withdrawal from Lebanon, the Lebanese
private Future television reported. Small convoys of Syrian soldiers were
seen leaving from two positions in the eastern Bekka Valley and moving to
Syria's border region, said the TV channel. After the first phase of
withdrawal to the Bekka Valley at the borders, Syrian troops tightened its
moving these days. Syria has been under mounting international pressure to
end its military and political influence in Lebanon, particularly after former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed on Feb. 14, which Syria has been
accused of being behind. According to a two-stage pullout plan announced by
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, the Syrian troops had
completed its first phase of withdrawal on March 17. About 6,000 troops have
already gone back to Syria, leaving some 8,000 that are expected to leave before
Lebanon's general elections due in May, it was reported.
Xinhua
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