Kuwait on Sunday praised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's statements on the implementation of theTaif Accord and upholding of UN Security Council resolution 1559,the Kuwait News Agency reported.

The Kuwaiti cabinet, in its weekly session, hailed the address yesterday of the Syrian president on developments of the Lebanese-Syrian relations after the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.

The Kuwaiti ministers considered the speech "a positive step"toward more harmonious relations between Lebanon and Syria, said the report.

Kuwait also urged "cautious and wisely measured steps throughoutthe current critical period," to ensure stability and common interests of the peoples in both countries, it added. Assad announced on Saturday to gradually pull out its troops from Lebanon.

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

Assad said through the move, Syria would fulfill its commitment to the Taif Accord and implement UN Security Council resolution1559, which demands foreign troops be withdrawn from Lebanon.