BEIRUT -The Lebanese army said Monday that Syria had boosted troop numbers along the border but that Damascus had stressed the move was linked to a crackdown against smugglers.

"Nearly 10,000 Syrian special forces have been deployed in the Abbudiya region along the border between Lebanon and Syria," an army spokesman said.

"We asked Damascus for clarification and we were told that the measures were strictly internal and on Syrian territory and that they were in no way directed against Lebanon."

The spokesman said the Syrian authorities had assured the Lebanese army that the buildup- was aimed at cracking down on smuggling activities and other crime along the border.

Lebanese security agencies also confirmed that some 10,000 Syrian special forces were deployed along the Arida crossing in northern Lebanon and towards the area of Wadi Khaled inside the Syrian territories, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) reported.

The information obtained by the security agencies says the deployed troops are problaby part of the Fourth Brigade of the Syrian Republican Guards, which is led by Brigadier Maher Assad, brother of the Syrian president.

The information further says that the troops are equipped with personnel carriers, and tanks and artillery.

The Syrian soldiers were digging tunnels, and military trucks were seen on the Dabbousieh hill and in the villages of Abu Hreira, Badli and Hakr Janin, the report said.