The first contingent of Syrian forces stationed in Lebanon crossed the Jdaidet Yabous border checkpoint into Syrian territories on early Saturday.

About 60 military vehicles carrying some 1,000 Syrian soldiers in full uniform besides dozens of military trucks loaded with equipment crossed the checkpoint, 70 km east of Beirut and 40 km west of Damascus.

A cheering crowd welcomed the return of the army, brandishing Syrian flags and chanting pro-Syrian slogans.

The maneuver came one day after all Syrian troops completed withdrawal from northern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources said.

Only one major intelligence office in Lebanon's second largest city of Tripoli remained, said the sources, adding that it could pull out within 24 hours.

Thousands of Syrian troops and military vehicles started withdrawing overnight and all the military positions were evacuated on Friday, they added.

Under mounting international pressure, Syria agreed with Lebanon on a two-phased withdrawal plan on Monday, which stipulates Syrian troops move to the eastern Bekaa Valley before a final pullout.

Syria sent its 14,000 troops to Lebanon in 1976 and acted as a power broker during its tiny neighbor's 1975-1990 civil war.

The UN Security Council passed Resolution 1559 last September, demanding foreign troops quit Lebanon and foreign countries stop meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Anti-Syrian calls were intensified following the Feb. 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri as Lebanese opposition accused Syria of being behind the plot.