BEIJING, Mar. 5 -- United States President George W. Bush on Friday flatly rejected any partial withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

    He says that he will not accept the kind of "half-measures" Damascus is expected to propose as a compromise.

    "We want that democracy in Lebanon to succeed and we know it cannot succeed so long as she is occupied by a foreign power. There is no half measures involved, when the United States and France and others say withdrawal we mean complete withdrawal, no half hearted measures."

    During a speech Saturday to his parliament, Syrian President Bashar Assad is expected to announce a troop pullback to eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border - but not a full withdrawal.

    Saudi Arabia, has also called on Syria to pull out.

    On Thursday, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah told Assad their relations will suffer if Syria doesn't start soon on a complete withdrawal.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)