Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in an interview with French television France 3 on Thursday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was to announce within days a timetable for the final withdrawal from Lebanon.

"I have had several conversations with the Syrian president andmy last one was yesterday in Algiers," where an Arab summit took place, Mubarak said.

"The Syrian president is implementing (UN Security Council) Resolution 1559" and will announce "within a week a timetable for the withdrawal of all of his forces from Lebanon," he said.

"I told him that it should take place before the (Lebanese legislative) elections (due by the end of May) to avoid other problems, and I believe he is fully aware of this. He is determined to withdraw his troops and also the intelligence services which are in Lebanon," he continued.

Al-Assad announced on March 5 his decision to withdraw the Syrian troops in two phases.

Between 4,000 to 5,000 Syrian soldiers have evacuated Lebanon, and the Syrian troops remaining in Lebanon are estimated at 10,000.

Source: Xinhua