Syria says it will withdraw all troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon by April 30.

The announcement came from the United Nations Middle East envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen, at a joint news conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara.

Roed-Larsen says the planned withdrawal is in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

He says the completion of the withdrawal is consistent with Resolution 1559, passed last September, which calls for all foreign troops to leave Lebanon.

Shara echoed Roed-Larsen's words, saying that after the withdrawal from Lebanon, Syria will have fulfilled its obligations under Resolution 1559.

Syria first deployed troops in Lebanon 29 years ago as a buffer during the early stages of the 1975-1990 civil war.

(CRI.com April 4, 2005)