US rejects partial withdrawal by Syria

United States President George W. Bush on Friday flatly rejected any partial withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

He says that he will not accept the kind of "half-measures" Damascus is expected to propose as a compromise.

"We want that democracy in Lebanon to succeed and we know it cannot succeed so long as she is occupied by a foreign power. There is no half measures involved, when the United States and France and others say withdrawal we mean complete withdrawal, no half hearted measures."

During a speech Saturday to his parliament, Syrian President Bashar Assad is expected to announce a troop pullback to eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border - but not a full withdrawal.

Saudi Arabia, has also called on Syria to pull out.

On Thursday, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah told Assad their relations will suffer if Syria doesn't start soon on a complete withdrawal.