Talks but no action yet on Syrian troop withdrawal

The presidents of Syria and Lebanon opened talks today on Syrian troop withdrawal from Lebanon, setting in motion the process of implementing Damascus’ decision to bring home its 14,000 troops from the neighbouring country.

The meeting in Damascus came amid intense US-led international pressure on Syria to withdraw its army from Lebanon and to stop interfering in its smaller neighbour’s affairs.

Lebanon’s defence minister had said a withdrawal of troops would begin after the summit.

But in the mountains east of the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Associated Press reporters saw no sign of Syrian soldiers preparing to leave their positions at midday today.

Soldiers near the mountain resort of Aley, an area slated to be vacated by the Syrians , went about their daily routine. Several walked back and forth in front of a position, waving at a car to keep moving as it drove closer.

In Beirut, more than 5,000 anti-Syrian demonstrators gathered at central Martyrs’ Square, chanting “Syria Out!” Many more were still streaming to the square, where most waved Lebanon’s distinctive red and white flag with a green cedar tree.

Today’s demonstration marked three weeks since the February 14 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri that began a peaceful campaign against Syrian control.

Some in the crowd carried large photographs of Hariri. One group carried a banner that read: “Today we have one target: To liberate our land.”

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, led a delegation that included the prime minister, parliament speaker and foreign minister, at the meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad at the hilltop People’s Palace overlooking Damascus.

Assad insists his decision to pull back his forces – which have been based in Lebanon since the early stages of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war – is not a result of pressure that has mounted against his government since Hariri’s assassination.