Syria Redeploys more forces in Lebanon.

[MKSheppard]

linka

Reuters
Syria Redeploys Some Security Forces in Lebanon
Sat Dec 18,11:45 AM ET

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria, under intense U.N. pressure to quit Lebanon, pulled out its security forces from three key positions in Beirut and north Lebanon on Saturday and redeployed them in eastern Lebanon.

The Lebanese army said in a statement the security positions that were vacated were in Beirut's international airport, the capital's Shi'ite southern suburb and one in northern Lebanon.

Syria has around 14,000 troops in its tiny neighbor.

The redeployment is the second shift of Syrian forces since September's U.N. resolution 1559 demanded foreign armies quit Lebanon. Syria was not mentioned by name in the resolution, but its role as the main power broker in Lebanon has been openly criticized by U.N. Security Council members.

While a redeployment in September saw the withdrawal of 3,000 Syrian soldiers from Lebanon, Saturday's move was a rare redeployment of security forces, including the powerful intelligence service.

Beirut's southern suburb is a stronghold of the Hizbollah group, which is targeted for disarming in the U.N. resolution.

Political analyst Emile Khoury said the redeployment came only few days after U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) appointed Terje Roed-Larsen to follow up the implementation of the resolution.

"This move is a message to the outside ... as we know Larsen will begin his assignment next year so they (the Syrians) are trying to forestall his mission," Khoury told Reuters.

"They are saying by this move ... we are implementing the Taef accord as agreed with the Lebanese," he said, referring to the agreement that ended the 1975-90 Lebanese civil war.

Taef stipulates that Syria redeploys its forces in Lebanon to the strategic Bekaa Valley.

"I believe other steps will follow and all other troops will be shifted to the Bekaa," Khoury said.

A security source told Reuters that meetings between Syrian and Lebanese officials were still under way and other redeployments could be expected soon.

He added that the security forces were moved to the Bekaa Valley close to the Syrian-Lebanese border.

The U.N. resolution had sparked heated debate among the Lebanese over Syria's role in Lebanon with some anti-Syrian groups asking for a complete Syrian withdrawal.

Opposition groups held a conference in Beirut this week and called on Syrian security forces to "stop interfering in the internal Lebanese politics and especially in the coming (general) election," which is expected to be held in May 2005.

It also called for the resignation of the government, which is seen as having been chosen for its loyalty to Syria.

The Lebanese parliament had changed the constitution to allow pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to extend his term.

Both Beirut and Damascus have repeatedly said they would not accept outside interference in Lebanese affairs and that only they would decide when Syria should withdraw.

[Ma Deuce]

Bu...bu...but, the almighty UN told them to get out of Lebanon! How can this be!

[Stuart Mackey]

Bu...bu...but, the almighty UN told them to get out of Lebanon! How can this be!

Ya know, if there is one thing that I dislike, its such ignorant sarcasm directed at the UN. If one were to look closly {a google search should accomplish the goal} one would find that the almighty members of the UN, including the almighty US of A told them to get out, how can this be?.
Why, one could even narrow it down to the big five on the security council! perhaps one should blame the Big five for the UN's uselessness instead of the body corporate UN,cause its the Big five who decide if anything happens.