The United States on Friday declined to make a positive assessment to Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, while insisting that all Syrian forces and intelligence operatives be out of Lebanon.

"We'll be satisfied when the terms of (UN Security Council) Resolution 1559 are fulfilled. That means when all Syrian forces and intelligence operatives are out of Lebanon. That hasn't happened yet," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters.

"Syria needs to get out of Lebanon. It needs to get all its forces out of Lebanon immediately, consistent with (Resolution) 1559. That hasn't happened yet. That needs to happen," he said.

The spokesman also quoted UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as saying that the international community are expecting to see a full Syrian pullout from Lebanon.

Annan demands Syria withdraw all of its 20,000 troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon before the country holds parliamentary elections in May, according to a statement by his spokesman on Thursday.

The announcement marked the first time that the UN has set a deadline for the complete withdrawal of Syrian security forces, who have held sway over Lebanon for 29 years.

Syria agreed to move its troops after the Feb. 14 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri sparked fierce anti-Syrian protests in Beirut and global calls for the Syrians to leave.

So far, Syria has pulled back army and intelligence agents to eastern Lebanon, with about 4,000 troops having crossed into Syria.

About 10,000 troops remain along the Lebanese side of the border, and a date for a full withdrawal is to be set at a meeting of Syrian and Lebanese officers scheduled for April 7.

Source: Xinhua