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EU calls for complete withdrawal of Syrian troops
17/3/2005 22:18

Foreign ministers from all European Union (EU) member states, who gathered here for a meeting,on Wednesday urged Syria to withdraw its troops completely from Lebanon.

"The (EU) Council emphasizes that Syrian troops and intelligence services must be withdrawn completely, in accordance with a precise timetable," said a statement after the meeting.

The ministers called on Syria to implement rapidly the pledgesmade by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on March 12, 2005 to withdraw all Syrian troops from Lebanon.

The EU also urged Lebanon to hold a "free, fair and transparent"elections on schedule "without any outside interference or meddling".

The ministers hint that the EU would possibly dispatch an election observer mission to Lebanon.

The meeting also called on the Lebanese authorities to clear upthe circumstances of the killing of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and identify those responsible.



 Xinhua