BEIRUT (AFP) - Syria is planning an imminent redeployment of its troops in Lebanon, officials said, in the face of heavy international pressure for Damascus to end its political and military domination of its tiny neighbour.
Syrian Defense Minister General Hassan Turkmani, on a previously unannounced visit, was holding talks here to coordinate redeployment of the more than 16,000 Syrian army troops stationed on Lebanese soil, a presidential spokesman told AFP.
"They are holding talks to coordinate practical matters related to the Syrian army redeployment which is expected to take place later today or tomorrow," spokesman Rafiq Shalala said.
The pullback eastwards towards the Syrian border comes after both the United Nations and the United States ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus this month over its role in Lebanon.
It was not clear if the long-awaited redeployment, the fifth since 2001, would be a complete pullout of Syrian troops, which first arrived here in 1976, one year after the start of the devastating Lebanese civil war.
Shalala said Turkmani and a Syrian delegation began talks early Tuesday with Lebanese army chief General Michel Sleiman and other military officials.
The two delegations are expected to visit President Emile Lahoud -- a Damascus protege -- at around 9:30 am (0630 GMT) to inform him of how the military moves will proceed, he said.
"The redeployement comes in line with the continued coordination between Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Taef agreement," he said, referring to the accord ending the 15-year civil war and calling for a redeployment of Syrian forces.
The move comes just three weeks after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and respect for its sovereignty.
Resolution 1559 said the Security Council "reaffirms its call for the strict respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon throughout Lebanon."
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to draft a report on October 3 on compliance with Resolution 1559, which also demanded the disarming of militias in the country.
And just a week ago, US envoy William Burns was in Damascus to tell Syria -- which is under US sanctions -- that it should stop meddling in Lebanon's affairs and pull out its troops.
Shalala said the redeployment was set to take place in the mountains surrounding Beirut from the north to the southeast as well as in northern Lebanon, but said full details would be released later.
Syria redeployed its forces in June 2001, again in April 2002 and then twice in 2003, withdrawing the bulk of its troops from Beirut and the surrounding areas into the eastern Bekaa valley.
The 1989 Taef national reconciliation agreement put an end to the country's devastating 15-year civil war a year and stipulates a redeployment of Syrian forces but sets no date for their complete withdrawal.
The two neighbours are linked by a 1991 "treaty of fraternity, friendship and cooperation", whereby Syria dominates Lebanon politically and has an estimated 16,000 troops based in the country, stationed in most areas except the south.
Syria's clout in Lebanon has also raised concerns internally, with Christian leaders in particular saying its troops should have pulled back years ago.