Syria has denied a report it will withdraw from Lebanon. Earlier, the head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, had said Syria would soon take steps to withdraw its army from Lebanese areas in accordance with the 1989 Taif agreement. Moussa made the announcement after a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

International and Lebanese pressure has been mounting on Damascus since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut a week ago. Moussa also said Assad welcomes a UN investigation into Hariri's death.

Syria says Amr Moussa misunderstood President Bashar Assad. A Syrian government official told the BBC its position remains a redeployment within Lebanon. He said that Syrian and Lebanese troops are "in complete harmony" in the Bekaa Valley.

(CCTV.com February 22, 2005)