WAR.WIRE
New Syrian army pullback in Lebanon: Lebanese army
 BEIRUT (AFP) Dec 18, 2004
 The Syrian army carried out Saturday a limited redeployment in Lebanon, pulling army intelligence troops out of the Beirut airport, the southern suburbs of Beirut and northern Lebanon, a Lebanese army officer told AFP.

Syrian intelligence offices were shut at the Beirut International Airport, in Beirut's southern suburbs, and in Batrun, a northern coastal town, he said.

A Lebanese army command statement confirmed that "under the directives of Lebanese president Emile Lahoud and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad... a redeployment of Syrian (army) intelligence posts has been decided."

The Syrian army intelligence office at the Beirut International Airport was closed as well as that of Beirut's southern suburbs and Batrun, it said.

The redeployment came amid heavy international pressure for Damascus to end its political and military domination of its tiny neighbour.