The last Syrian troops withdraw from Tripoli, north Lebanon early March 11,2005. Almost all Syrian troops left north Lebanon on Friday, ending an unbroken 29-year presence and underlining Syria's diminishing role in its small neighbor. (Reuters Photo)

Lebanese women wave national flags at an anti-Syrian demonstration in Martyr's Square in Beirut, March 11, 2005. The last Syrian troops in north Lebanon left for home on Friday, underlining Syria's diminishing role in its neighbor as a worsening political crisis threatened the timing of parliamentary polls due by May. (Reuters Photo)

Syrian troops are hailing (Reuters Photo)

   BEIRUT, March 11 (Xinhuanet) -- All Syrian troops have completed withdrawal from northern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources said on Friday.

   Only one major intelligence office in Lebanon's second largestcity of Tripoli remained, said the sources, adding that it could pull out within 24 hours.

   Thousands of Syrian troops and military vehicles startedwithdrawing overnight and all the military positions were evacuatedon Friday, they added.

   Altogether 14,000 Syrian troops were deployed in Lebaneseterritory, but it is unclear exactly how many troops were stationedin the country's northern area.

   Under mounting international pressures, Syria agreed withLebanon on a two-phased withdrawal plan on Monday, which stipulatesthat Syrian troops move to the eastern Bekaa Valley and then thetwo sides reach a timeline for the final pullout. Lebanese Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Mrad said Thursday thatsome 7,000 troops were evacuating and that most of them were movingback to Syria.

   Syria sent troops to its small neighbor in 1976 during thecountry's 1975-1990 civil war.

   The UN Security Council passed Resolution 1559 last September,demanding Syria troops to quit Lebanon and stop meddling in thecountry's affairs.

   Anti-Syrian calls were intensified following the Feb. 14 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri as Lebanese opposition groups accused Syria of being behind the bloodshed. 

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