Arab umbrella for the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria

Arab diplomatic sources in Riyadh disclosed moves carried out by Egypt and Algeria as well as Saudi Arabia in order to ensure what it described as an Arab cover for the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon.

The same sources explained that contacts are being held at the meantime between several Arab states and foreign countries to ease down the tension that resulted from the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri on Feb. 14.

The sources considered that the redeployment of the Syrian forces in Lebanon which was announced by Damascus on Thursday was a result of Arab contacts made recently with the Syrian leadership included each of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

Worthy mentioning that Saudi Arabia sponsored in 1989 the Taif agreement which put an end to the civil war in Lebanon. It is an agreement that states to coordinate between the Lebanese and Syrian authorities after the redeployment of the Syrian forces to the east of Lebanon in 1992, but it did not openly talk about a withdrawal for the Syrian forces nor a timetable in this regard.