PARIS, March 30 (Xinhuanet) -- France on Wednesday reacted prudently after Syria announced its troop withdrawal from Lebanon before Lebanese elections set for May, urging the United Nations to follow the application of Damascus' commitments.

    "We hope that the commitments made by Syria will be rapidly followed by concrete action at the place," French Foreign Ministry's spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said at a news conference.

    In a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released Tuesday in New York, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara outlined "the full withdrawal of those forces, which it will undertake before the next election in Lebanon."

    "We have noted the letter transmitted by al-Shara to UN Secretary General," said the spokesman, adding that "it should be the Security Council and the special representative of the UN Secretary General, Roed Larsen, to follow the application." Enditem