Written question asked by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 21 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the security situation in Lebanon of Syrian troops making a full withdrawal; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the security situation in Lebanon of Syrian troops making a full withdrawal; and if he will make a statement. [223737] Mr. Rammell: The withdrawal of Syrian troops to the Beka'a Valley and Syria is a first step in the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. We welcome the steps that the Lebanese Government have taken to ensure a calm security situation, including at the large-scale peaceful rallies that have been taking place in Beirut. So far, the Lebanese security forces have shown themselves to be capable of filling the security role left by the departing Syrian troops. We are concerned about the recent bomb explosions which killed three and injured five on 23 March, and injured eight on 19 March. We condemn all such attacks which seek to de-stabilise Lebanon.

Secondary information