A quick Syrian troop withdrawal from Lebanon as demanded by the United States and France would destabilise the country, Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami said on Thursday.

Asked about international and Lebanese opposition calls for an immediate pullout of Syrian troops and security services from Lebanon, Karami told Reuters in an interview: "In our opinion, it would shake the stability of the country."

"Driving Syria out of Lebanon through challenges, provocation and curses cannot leave the country relaxed and stable. (A Syrian withdrawal) can only take place through consensus," he said.

U.S. President George W. Bush demanded on Wednesday that Syria pull its security services as well as its army from Lebanon, a day after French President Jacques Chirac voiced concern that Syrian intelligence controlled the country.

But Bush said before seeking U.N. sanctions, Washington would see how Syria responded to international clamour for it to quit Lebanon, which has grown louder since a powerful bomb killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri last week.

Karami said Syria's influence in Lebanon was greater than merely military or intelligence forces.

"Syrian influence in Lebanon didn't come about because of the Syrian army and the Syrian intelligence service.

"It is an illusion to think that. The number of Syrian troops in Lebanon doesn't exceed 14,000. Can Syria control Lebanon with 14,000 soldiers?" he asked.

"We are interwoven with (Syria) in all fields -- religious, political, national, social and economic. A large sector of the population is committed to it in all circumstances," he said.

Syria has had troops in Lebanon since it intervened in the civil war in 1976. It has dominated Lebanese politics since snuffing out the war in 1990 with tacit U.S. support. (Reuters)