Reports say Syrian troops have completely withdrawn from northern Lebanon.
Lebanese security sources say thousands of soldiers evacuated their northern posts for the first time since Syrian forces entered Lebanon in 1976. However, Syrian intelligence agents remain in the north, and Syrian soldiers remain elsewhere in the country.
The news comes as a top United Nations envoy prepares to visit Damascus to discuss evacuating all of Syria's military forces from Lebanon.
Terje Roed-Larsen says he expects to receive a firm timetable on troop withdrawals from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Friday, the Washington Post newspaper reported that the envoy plans to tell Syria it faces political and economic isolation if it does not quickly withdraw all of its troops.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP, Reuters.
