Lebanon, 7 Oct. (AKI) - The Lebanese government intends to clarify the status of tens of thousands of Syrians who work in Lebanon with no formal permit and without paying income tax - a legacy of Syria's three decades-long military and political influence over its neigbour. The Lebanese government on Friday announced it has set up a special office with which all Syrian nationals in Lebanon will be obliged to register.

"The measure is intended to ensure job security for the Syrian workers because our country needs their contribution in many sectors and activities," Information Minister, Ghazi Aridi, said.

Before Syria's military withdrawal from Lebanon in April, some 400,000 Syrian nationals worked in the country mostly in the building industry and in the agrculture sector. But many of them returned to Syria in the wake of the mass anti-Syrian demonstrations that preceeded the pullout of Damascus' troops. The demonstrations were triggered by the February assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, an event the Lebanese oppostion accused Syria of masterminding.

Many analysts say the loss of employment opportunities for its nationals in Lebanon could deal a major blow to the Syrian economy since these migrants who were exempt from income tax sent some some 1.5 billion dollars in savings every year.

The issue is seen as a trump card Beirut could use to win political and economic concessions from Damascus the analysts say, as the Syrian workers could be replaced by nationals from other countries such as Jordan and Egypt.

According to official estimates the number of unemployed in Syria is 800,000 a figure that could shoot up to 1.2 million if the workers are not allowed to return to Lebanon.