Visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara reiterated on Sunday that his country would withdraw its 14,000 troops from Lebanon according to the Taif Agreement.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Shara said the Syrian stance on the Lebanon issue was a full commitment to the Taif Agreement.

The agreement, signed between Damascus and various Lebanese groups in 1989, put an end to Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war and outlined the gradual pullout of Syrian forces from Lebanon.

However, the Syrian top diplomat evaded a question on whether Syria would implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which called on Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and stop meddling in its neighbor's internal affairs.

"The majority of the Lebanese people reject the resolution despite their respect of its international legitimacy," said Shara, adding the Lebanese people, instead, are unanimous about the Taif Agreement.

Damascus is now under mounting international pressure to quit Lebanon after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Feb. 14, who was opposed to Syria's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2005)