Syria will pull all its troops out of Beirut within the next 48 hours, Lebanese security sources said today.
Syria has been shifting troops out of at least 12 major bases and several other smaller positions since Thursday, in an apparent concession to a bitter Christian-led campaign against Damascus's domination of its smaller neighbour.
Lebanese security yesterday said many positions in mainly Christian neighbourhoods and near Lebanese government buildings had been turned over to the Lebanese army.
It was not clear that the redeployment would mean a net reduction in Syria's 35,000 strong troop presence in Lebanon, which dates back to near the beginning of the country's 1975-1990 civil war.
Some Syrian troops are to be shifted to positions in the western Bekaa valley, the sources said. Syria also has significant numbers of troops in northern Lebanon.