Syria starts redeploying forces in Lebanon

Syrian forces have started redeploying from the outskirts of Lebanon's capital Beirut towards the eastern Syrian-Lebanese border…

Syrian forces have started redeploying from the outskirts of Lebanon's capital Beirut towards the eastern Syrian-Lebanese border today.

The redeployment follows mounting US-led international pressure on Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and stop interfering in its neighbour's internal affairs.

The United States and France drafted Security Council Resolution 1559 after Syria, which has about 17,000 troops in Lebanon, asked top officials in Lebanon to extend the mandate of pro-Syrian Lebanese President Mr Emile Lahoud despite local opposition.

The Lebanese parliament brushed aside the resolution, which also called for foreign armies to leave Lebanon, and amended the constitution to allow Mr Lahoud to serve three more years.