Additional 2000 Syrian troops have left Lebanon, lowering Syria's military presence to 8,000 soldiers, a military official said on Monday. 

According to The AP, more troops are due to leave this week. Syrian soldiers were seen dismantling eight positions near the eastern city of Baalbek on Monday.

In Chaat, The Associated Press saw Syrian soldiers loading equipment onto 10 trucks, each of which had an anti-aircraft gun in tow.

A Lebanese military official said the 2,000 Syrian soldiers had left the eastern Bekaa Valley and returned home during the past few days. Before the assassination of Lebanon's ex-Premier Rafic Al Hariri on Feb. 14, about 14,000 Syrian troops were in Lebanon. Some 4,000 soldiers left in the first phase of a withdrawal that was completed March 17.

© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)