WASHINGTON - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said that his country will withdraw its troops from neighboring Lebanon in "the next few months," in an interview with Time magazine which posted excerpts on its website Tuesday.
"It (withdrawl) should be very soon and maybe in the next few months. Not after that," the Syrian president told Time.
The dramatic fall on Monday of the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Omar Karameh has dealt a blow to Syria.
As Lebanon scrambles to find a new prime minister, questions remain on when and how Syria's 14,000 troops in Lebanon will quit the country. The troops are stationed in Lebanon under a bilateral accord.
Israel, the United States and France have demanded the withdrawl of Syrian troops in the wake of the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri on February 14.
The pro-Syrian Karameh had replaced Hariri as public accusations flew in Lebanon that Damascas was behind Hariri's killing.
Assad signalled in the interview excerpts that Damascus will discuss the details of a troop withdraw with UN envoy Terji Roed-Larsen, who he said is due to return to the region in March.
He said Syria's army would need time to plan for any withdrawl.
"I have not had the meeting with the army people. They may say it will take six months. You need to prepare when you bring your army back to your country. You need to prepare where you will put the troops," he said.
"After withdrawing we have to protect our border. We need to talk about our borders," Assad added.
03/01/2005 19:59 GMT