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May 3, 2005

Lebanonwire

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Syria, Lebanon to probe claims all troops have not left

DAMASCUS - Syria and Lebanon have decided to form a commission to examine claims by Lebanon's premier that Damascus still has troops in Lebanon, in an area where the border is poorly demarcated, the official SANA news agency reported Tuesday.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nagib Miqati said in an interview published Monday that Syrian troops are located in Deir al-Aashaer, which is on the border, "but we are certain that the Syrian position falls within Lebanese territory".

"We will of course speak with Syria about this when I visit Damascus," he told France's Le Monde newspaper.

Miqati is to travel to the Syrian capital on Wednesday on his first foreign visit since taking office in mid-April.

Syria had supposedly completed pulling out its troops from Lebanon on April 26, ending a 29-year military presence in its smaller neighbour.

A Syrian official said Tuesday that the Lebanese and Syrian army general commands decided to "form a joint military commission composed of officers and topographical experts to examine the question."

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