Lebanon's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud says a joint Syrian-Lebanese military commission will meet April seventh to detail plans for a full withdrawal of Syrian troops.
Mr. Hammoud spoke today (Sunday in Damascus) after meeting with U.N. Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen. Mr. Larsen said details of the withdrawal will be released after he briefs the U.N. Secretary-General later this week.
Syrian Cabinet Minister Buthaynah Shaban said the troops will be gone as soon after April first as logistically possible, and, in all probability, before Lebanese elections in May. She told the Cable News Network (CNN) that Syrian intelligence operatives will also leave.
Ms. Shaaban also disputed U.S. charges that the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. She called Hezbollah a "very important" political party whose military wing put an end to Israeli occupation in south Lebanon.