Posted on 03/13/2005 2:58:06 PM PST by Savage219
Syrian troop move 'encourages' US Syria's pledge to pull its troops from Lebanon has been cautiously welcomed in Washington, amid continuing mass rallies in support of its presence. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was a "positive development" but she and other top officials called for the withdrawal to be speeded up.
Damascus has promised to give the UN a timetable for pulling out its 14,000 troops and its intelligence agents.
Sunday saw a new mass pro-Syrian rally, this time in the town of Nabatiyeh.
Tens of thousands of people voiced support for the Syrian military presence and against American intervention at the rally organised by the Hezbollah militant group.
They chanted slogans such as "No to foreign intervention" and "Loyalty to Syria" while banners written in English read "Shut up Bush" and "Bush, we're in Lebanon, not Ukraine" - a reference to the troubled recent elections there.
In the Lebanese capital, Beirut, thousands attended a candlelit rally to demand a full investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, whose death was linked by some to Syria.
They spelt out the Arabic word for "Truth" with their bodies as night fell.
'Message heard'
White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley described initial reports on Syria's withdrawal plans as "encouraging".
"Assad is beginning to hear the message," he said, but added: "What we need to see is action and deeds, not just words."
Both Mr Hadley and Ms Rice gave a round of interviews to US broadcasters on Sunday.
"It is positive that Syria would begin to withdraw its forces out of Lebanon, not just to the border," said the secretary of state.
However, "all troops need to be out and they need to be out on a timetable that is expeditious", she added.
After talks in Syria on Saturday with President Assad, UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen announced that he had received a commitment that Damascus would provide details of its withdrawal plan.
He said he was encouraged by the president's commitment to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, referring to last September's UN call for the complete withdrawal of all Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Syrian forces are due to assemble in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley by the end of March before their complete departure.
A senior Lebanese military source quoted by The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said on Sunday that Syria had pulled 4,000 of its troops out of the country this week.
Syria has publicised the return of some of its troops, allowing photographers to record their arrival to flower-waving crowds.
"encourages" us to do what?
We are properly playing it cool in Lebanon. Iraq is our main fulcrum for pressuring Syria and Iran.
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