Lebanon deputies back PM's return

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is expected to confirm the appointment of Omar Karami as prime minister shortly.

Backing for Mr Karami came a day after a huge rally in Beirut in support of Syria, which keeps a tight grip on power in Lebanon, and Mr Lahoud.

The US has repeated calls for a full withdrawal of Syria's 14,000 troops.

"A Syrian military withdrawal will not mean the end of Syrian economic and political influence"
Denys, France

Lebanon crisis: Your views

Syria - which many critics blamed for killing former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri last month - has come under pressure from Lebanese opposition groups and internationally to withdraw all its troops and intelligence officers from Lebanon.

But tens of thousands of people have taken part in a fresh demonstration to show support, this time in the Syrian capital Damascus after yesterday's massive rally in Beirut.

Crowds carrying Syrian flags and chanting "Syria and Lebanon are one" converged on the city's central Omayyad square.

The crowd later marched to al-Rawda presidential palace where chants of "We want to see you Bashar" brought the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, out onto a balcony waving to the crowd with both hands.

Demands

Lebanese opposition groups have insisted a new government fulfil three conditions:

• a clear timetable for the full and complete withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence officials from Lebanon

• the resignation of Lebanese security officials they deem as negligent

• a thorough international investigation into Hariri's assassination.

In the face of mounting international pressure, Syrian troops have begun relocating from southern and northern Lebanon, to the Bekaa valley on the border between the two countries.

SYRIA IN LEBANON

• Military intervention begins in 1976
• 30,000 troops in Lebanon during 1980s, currently 14,000
• Syrian forces help end Lebanese civil war in 1990 and maintain peace
• Calls for Syrian withdrawal increase in 2000 after Israeli pullout from southern Lebanon
• UN resolution calling for foreign forces' withdrawal in Sept 2004

Q&A: Syria in Lebanon

Who's who in Syria?

A steady stream of Syrian military trucks headed east throughout the day and troops were seen packing up camps and materiel in the mountains.

No exact date has been given for a full Syrian withdrawal, but Damascus says it will complete the pull-out before Lebanon's general election in May.

"We will withdraw as soon as possible, without delay and probably a long time before the election," Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to the US, told the BBC.

US President George W Bush has repeated demands for Syria to leave.

"One thing a lot of people don't understand is Syrian influence is heavy-handed through the involvement of intelligence services throughout the government," Mr Bush told journalists on Wednesday.

Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon since 1976. They were instrumental in stabilising the country following the 15-year civil war.

Mr Hariri was killed in a massive car bombing in Beirut on 14 February. Suspicion immediately turned towards Syria, which had recently fallen out with the billionaire politician, but Damascus has denied any involvement.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Syrian Information Ministry
Lebanese presidency
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites