Posted on 04/26/2005 3:57:54 AM PDT by HAL9000
BORDER POST OF MASNAA (Lebanon) - the last Syrian soldier left Lebanon Tuesday not very front 13H30 local (10H30 GMT) in direction of Syria, noted a journalist of AFP.The last soldiers crossed the border post of Masnaa on board eight Syrian military buses, raising Syrian flags and photographs of Syrian presidents Bachar Al-Assad and his/her late Hafez father.
FACTBOX-Lebanon's army takes over from Syrians
(Adds areas where army not in sole control)
BEIRUT, April 26 (Reuters) - The Lebanese Army assumed sole control over most Lebanese territory on Tuesday after Syria pulled the last of its forces out of its neighbour, ending 29 years of military and intelligence domination.
Palestinian refugee camps are controlled by Palestinian fighters and Hizbollah guerrillas enjoy freedom of movement on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel.
Here are some key facts about the Lebanese Army obtained from a senior military source:
SIZE: 35,000 regular soldiers on active duty, as well as 20,000 conscripts. The number of conscripts will drop to 7,000 from May 4 for three years after which conscription will end.
GROUND FORCES: Six mechanised brigades, five light brigades, one Republican Guard brigade, one support brigade and one logistics brigade. The army also has 11 regiments, including one commando and two artillery regiments.
The ground forces have 60 M-48 U.S.-made tanks, 160 T-55 and T-56 Russian-made tanks and 1,000 M113 U.S.-made armoured troop carriers.
AIRFORCE: 24 UH1 U.S.-made helicopters that use three air bases.
NAVY: There are four naval bases for a force of 10 British-made coastguard boats, two French-built landing vessels and 40 combat support boats.
And here is the not so good news...
As last Syrian troop leaves, Lebanon PM rejects disarming Hezbollah
= (PICTURES) =
ATTENTION - UPDATES with PM's comments ///
BEIRUT, April 26 (AFP) - Lebanon's prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati on Tuesday rejected international demands for the disarming of the Hezbollah militia, as the last Syrian soldier left Lebanese soil.
"The government considers that the armed Lebanese resistance epitomises the people's right to defend its land and dignity against Israeli aggression and threats until the complete liberation of Lebanese territory," he told parliament.
He was speaking as Syria completed its troop withdrawal from Lebanon in the face of strong international pressure, ending a 29-year military presence in its tiny neighbour.
Miqati, who is close to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, thanked the Syrian troops for "helping the Lebanese out of the civil war and rebuilding the Lebanese army."
And he called for building a "stronger relationship... based on the mutual respect of the sovereignty of each country."
The pro-Syrian Hezbollah is the only armed group not to have laid down its weapons after the end of the 1975-1990 civil war as it was deemed to be leading a guerrilla resistance war against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.
The group's attacks were instrumental in leading to Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
Miqati also pledged also to cooperate fully with the UN probe into the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, whose killing in a massive bomb blast on February 14 triggered a major upheaval in Lebanon and paved the way for the Syrian pullout.
"Whoever is found by the investigation to be involved or negligent, will face (punitive) government measures," he told MPs.
Parliament was debating his new government's policy statement ahead of a confidence vote in his line-up expected on Wednesday.
His cabinet has pledged to draw up a new election law to allow crucial elections to be held as planned by the end of May as demanded by the Lebanese opposition and the international community.
Miqati is calling for the creation of a joint committee of ministers and MPS to put together within 10 days a new electoral law "that would guarantee proper political representation" in the multi-confessional country.
Finding a compromise on an electoral law that would win the backing of both the opposition and pro-Syrian loyalists is one of the stumbling blocks facing the new government, which was formed only last week.
Miqati said his government would press ahead with calling for elections under the disputed current law if parliament failed to sanction the proposed committee.
Under the constitution, the election date must be announced at least one month before the end of the term of the current parliament which runs out on May 31.
But Miqati, who has said the elections could be held on May 29, has asked MPs to shorten this period to 15 days.
rk/ak/txw
Lebanon-politics
AFP
Did they take their Secret Police with them? If not, then things haven't changed that much.
Of course, and you are right. The point is those things are mentioned in the articles ... Bush and his foreign policies never are ... unless it bad news.
Hey guys, he's not worth either.
Thanks for the post.
"Incidentally everyone in Lebanon is as pleased as punch today. I drove through the Bekaa Valley this afternoon with a couple of Lebanese friends and they were whooping all the way"
By the way did you drive through the small road going from Rayak - Ra'it - Kousaya - Kfar Zabad, back to the road going from Rayak to Deir Zanoun?
If so, then you would have watched, in the hills east of Kousaya, some T-54 tanks with ADA guns. These do not belong to the Lebanese Army. And they were not air-dropped by any far away nation or the UN for instance. They came lately on the dirt roads of the smugglers from the syrian side of the border, wearing palestinian colors. Nobody asked for their ID's.
They were shown on the local news of the LBC TV news last friday April 22nd. I leave it to your judgement.
"ADA" guns?
Works for me---it kind of tippy toes around and runs for cover at the sight of a Blackhawk or Warthog.
You mean the same day that Duelfer reports that there were no WMD ever, not destroyed, not transferred to syria, and that makes the news, the Syrians leave Lebanon without a shot being fired and that ISN'T news.
No wonder the world seems like such a screwed up place. Nothing ever goes right in Newsworld.
"flashing victory signs" ---and which A$$ kicking by the Israelis would that be in memory of? I'm kind of disappointed that Basher doesn't seem to have the nerve for at least one good fight. Has he/she lost his taste for the 12th century? Ain't it remarkable that they can't pull out without throwing a couple neenerneener's at the Israelis? C'mon GW---at least one good salvo with the 155's to send them on their way.
Bush Lied! Dictators and oppressive occupations died!
WHERE'S THE LEBONESE BABE PICTURES!!!!
Hard to believe that this story posted at 6:54 AM is the only 'Breaking News' story of the entire day.
Anyway I am very optimistic about what has been happening in Lebanon and in the coming Lebanese parliamentary election, the anti-Syrian forces will have a proof majority and Syria influence in Lebanon will greatly fade.
Good news and hope it's really, really, really true!!
The day is almost over (at least on the east coast) and it's STILL the #1 Breaking News story.
I guess that's good?
See ya! Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out!
Being widely reported. I'm sure it's true.Way to go, Dubya!! :)
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