PARIS - The Syrian army, which last week supposedly completed its withdrawal from Lebanon, still has soldiers "within Lebanese territory", Lebanese Prime Minister Nagib Miqati said in an interview published Monday.
"Deir al-Aashaer is on the border between the two countries, but we are certain that the Syrian position falls within Lebanese territory," Miqati told the French newspaper Le Monde, referring to a site in the eastern Bekaa valley.
"We will of course speak with Syria about this when I visit Damascus on Wednesday," the Lebanese prime minister added.
"Insofar as the Syrian leadership made the decision, an assuredly difficult one in its view, to no longer maintain a military presence or intelligence agents in Lebanon, it has no interest in keeping a few military trucks and soldiers in Deir al-Aashaer," Miqati said.
"I think the issue will be resolved quickly," he added.
Syria supposedly ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon on April 26, with the last troops seen crossing the border back home. UN teams were in Lebanon to verify the Syrian pullout.
05/02/2005 16:06 GMT