Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Syria is to start redeploying its troops in Lebanon today. The decision comes after a meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese counterpart, Emile Lahoud, in Damascus.
Mr Assad told parliament on Saturday, in a speech awaited from all the international community, that his 14,000 troops move was near. Mr Assad has not made clear whether the troops will cross into Syria once they reach the border.
Lebanon's outgoing defence minister, Abdel Rahim Mrad, said yesterday that after the meeting Syria would start the much-awaited pullback of troops who have been stationed in Lebanon for 29 years. "The redeployment to the Bekaa [Valley] will start after the meeting of the Syrian-Lebanese [Supreme] Council, which should take place on Monday in Damascus," he said.
But the US, which has repeatedly called for a full and immediate withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, said it had been left disappointed by Mr Assad's keenly awaited speech to parliament.
"It's clear to us, not just the United States, but the international community, that his words are insufficient," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said on Al-Hurra television. "We have not heard the words: 'immediate and full withdrawal'."
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Mr Assad's pledge was important but warned that "we expect to see precise and concrete acts".
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the withdrawal a "first step".