Pro-Syrian protest held in Beirut

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in the Lebanese capital of Beirut to protest about the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country.

The protest, organised by Shi'ite Muslim group, Hizbollah, attracted thousands of pro-Syrian protestors to the city.

Syrian forces had maintained a presence in Lebanon since 1976, when they intervened as a peacekeeping force during the civil war, which raged in the country between 1975 and 1990. However, a United Nations Security Council resolution 1559 issued last September called for all foreign forces to withdraw from the country. Syria still has around 14,000 troops stationed there and the country still exerts an influence on Lebanese politics.

Tensions have been rising in the area, following the assassination of the popular former Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri, in a car bomb attack. Many Lebanese people, including opposition parties, have claimed Syria was involved in the murder, though this has been strongly denied by the Syrian government.

Today's protest took place close to where anti-Syria protests have taken place in recent weeks.

The protests come just one day after plans were drawn up between Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Syrian President Bashar al Assad to begin the withdrawal of the remaining Syrian forces.

The US has stated firmly that it wants all Syrian troops to leave Lebanon before the election, which is due to take place in May.

Last week, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that Syria risked being treated as a "pariah" by both the West and neighbouring Arab countries if it did not withdraw its forces.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have also called for Syria to withdraw its remaining troops from the country.

(KMcA/SP)