Syria on Thursday was reported planning another redeployment of its army out of central and northern Lebanon.
If the report on An Nahar daily materializes, it would be the fourth redeployment to be carried out by the Syrian forces in two years by which Syria's military presence was dramatically reduced in Beirut and its environs to the east and south.
The new deployment will take place in a matter of days from coastal areas in northern Lebanon and districts in the Bhamdoun and Metn areas in central Lebanon east of the capital, An Nahar report added.
"The move will be a manifestation of Syria's confidence about its strong position in Lebanon despite the regional changes generated by the U.S. invasion of Iraq," An Nahar said.
The Beirut-based newspaper claimed that the Syrians have lately been unhappy with Lebanon's PM Rafic al Hariri for taking his power struggle against Lahoud too far and "signals of this displeasure have been received by the prime minister from more than one source."
"Damascus is jittery about Hariri's performance on the foreign theater and does not want in the midst of Syria's crisis of relations with the United States to give Hariri a priority over Lahoud in regional affairs," the report noted. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
