But Lebanon said a full withdrawal of Syrian forces would only take place after a comprehensive Middle East peace deal and an end to Israeli occupation of Arab territories.

Tuesday's redeployment, which involves about 3,000 troops, comes 28 years after Syria first sent in its forces after the outbreak of Lebanon's civil war. It also comes after the United Nations, the United States and France ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus this month to stop meddling in Lebanon's affairs.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud -- a protege of Damascus -- said the move was meant "to consolidate the security and stability of Lebanon."

Syrian forces were seen evacuating several small posts on hilltops east of Beirut as part of the troop pullback eastwards towards the border.

A high-ranking Lebanese army official told AFP the redeployment concerned about 3,000 troops, most of whom would return to Syria, leaving about 15,000 soldiers on Lebanese soil.

But Hammud said: "The (last) redeployment will be when we are sure that the international community, through the United Nations and negotiations, has (resolved)... the Arab-Israeli conflict and ended the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, and when Arab rights have been regained," Hammud said.

Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.

They still control the Shebaa Farms, a small swathe of territory captured from Syria in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and now claimed by Lebanon with the backing of Damascus. And they have annexed the Golan Heights, also seized from Syria in 1967.

The Syrian redeployment was the latest in a series since 2001 which has seen the number of troops decrease from a high of 35,000 at the end of the war.

It comes just three weeks after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and respect for its sovereignty.

Resolution 1559 said the Security Council "reaffirms its call for the strict respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon throughout Lebanon."

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to draft a report on October 3 on compliance with Resolution 1559, which also demanded the disarming of militias in the country.

And just a week ago, US envoy William Burns was in Damascus to tell Syria -- which is under US sanctions -- that it should stop meddling in Lebanon's affairs and pull out its troops.

Washington accuses Damascus of backing Palestinian militant groups it regards as terrorist and seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction, charges that the Syrian authorities deny.

The heightened pressure came as Lebanon adopted a controversial Syrian-inspired amendment to its constitution allowing Lahoud to serve as president for another three years.

Hammud said the redeployment was in line with the 1989 Taif national reconciliation agreement, which led to the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

The accord also called for a Syrian army pullback to the eastern Bekaa Valley, but did not set a date for the full pullout.

"This steps shows that the improving security situation and stability in Lebanon have allowed (for the troop redeployment)," Hammud said. "Lebanon will continue to coordinate with Syria in this field and all other fields in the interests of the two brotherly countries and peoples."

The redeployment was announced after a meeting between Syrian Defense Minister and Lebanese army chief General Michel Sleiman.

Presidential spokesman Rafiq Shalala said troops would withdraw from the mountains surrounding Beirut from the north to the southeast as well as in northern Lebanon, but said full details would be released later.

Syria redeployed its forces in June 2001, again in April 2002 and then twice in 2003, withdrawing the bulk of its troops from Beirut and the surrounding areas into the eastern Bekaa valley.

Syria's clout in Lebanon has also raised concerns internally, with Christian leaders in particular saying its troops should have pulled back years ago.

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