Syria president's remarks 'positive': Lebanon opposition

BEIRUT - Lebanon's leading opposition politician Walid Jumblatt described as "positive" Saturday promises by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to redeploy all his troops to eastern Lebanon, even though he gave no timeframe.
"The Syrian president's speech is positive and meets our aspirations. he gave a new vision and that's what we've been calling for," Jumblatt told the privately owned Future TV.
"We extend our hand while realising that there need to be a clear timetable," Jumblatt, a Druze leader, told the television by telephone from Saudi Arabia.
His upbeat reaction contrasted with that of Christian former president Amin Gemayel, a longstanding opponent of Damascus.
"These comments (Assad's) are unacceptable," Gemayel said. "We had been expecting him to announce a withdrawal across the border not to the border.
"There are no deadlines either, neither for the pullback nor for a second stage."

03/05/2005 17:54 GMT