Syria gives in to US as intelligence officers withdrawn

SYRIAN military intelligence started clearing out its headquarters in Beirut and vacated another office in the Lebanese capital yesterday in line with key demands by the US and Lebanese opposition.

The evacuation of the Syrian intelligence service, a widely-resented arm through which Damascus controlled many aspects of Lebanese life, has been a key demand of the opposition, which orchestrated a gigantic demonstration on Monday in central Beirut.

Syrian agents appeared to be preparing to leave their headquarters at Ramlet el-Baida on the edge of Beirut. Belongings and furniture were loaded into three trucks.