Syria has moved the lion's share of military troops to the
Bekaa
Valley, but maintained its large intelligence presence in Lebanon.
Damascus was said to have withdrawn virtually all Syrian troops from
central and northern Lebanon. Lebanese officials said most of the 14,000
Syrian troops arrived in the Bekaa Valley on Saturday.
The Syrian military organized a 62-vehicle convoy for the removal of
troops and equipment from northern Lebanon. Officials said most of the
convoy entered Syria while some of the troops remained in Lebanon, Middle East Newsline reported.
Syria, however, has maintained its intelligence presence in Lebanon.
Officials said Syria has failed to evacuate its nine intelligence offices in
northern Lebanon and was operating a new headquarters in southern Beirut.
The offices maintain liasion with every level of Lebanese government and
provides licenses for most official activities.
Officials said Syria continues to deploy troops in bases around Beirut.
Damascus has set a March 31 deadline for the redeployment of Syrian troops
to the Bekaa Valley.
The United Nations, urged by France and the United States, has demanded
a timetable for the withdrawal of Syrian intelligence officers from Lebanon.
UN envoy Terje Larsen said he expected a timetable for a full Syrian
withdrawal from President Bashar Assad as well as the disarming of the
Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.
Hizbullah has already announced its refusal to disarm under the UN
Security Council resolution. At the same time, Hizbullah has pledged to
increase its political activities.
Larsen said the redeployment of the military and intelligence forces to
the Bekaa Valley would be completed by the end of March. He said a full
Syrian withdrawal would take place, but would not say when.
"Further, a significant number of these Syrian forces, including
intelligence [personnel], will be withdrawn from Lebanon into Syria during
this stage," Larsen said after he met Assad on Saturday. "The second stage
will lead to a complete and full withdrawal of all Syrian military
personnel, assets and intelligence apparatus."
