Lebanese troops withdraw from around Syrian HQ in Beirut

BEIRUT - Units from the Lebanese army briefly took up positions near the Beirut headquarters of Syrian army intelligence Saturday afternoon and later withdrew, an AFP correspondent witnessed.
Eight armoured personnel carriers had moved into position close to the offices, located near the Hotel Beau Rivage and the seafront in southern Beirut, and a number of troops were seen on foot.
A Lebanese officer at the scene said the move was a "prelude to the Lebanese army taking charge of positions that will be evacuated by the Syrian army."
Syrian troops remained in their quarters, where sentinels were posted outside.

03/05/2005 13:22 GMT