Junblat welcomes al-Assad's announcement to withdraw from Lebanon

The initiative of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad that his country's forces which have been in Lebanon since 30 years will leave Lebanon within months, received cautious welcome from prominent opposition leaders.

The opposition Druz leader Walid Junblat said in a radio statement that al-Assad's statement is "good gesture," but he added that "the phrase of few coming months is vague."

Junblat called for a clear schedule for the withdrawal of the Syrian forces. He added "the concept of time in the Middle east is a vague one." It is, however, expected that the Lebanese opposition would have taken a decision on Wednesday whether they will take part in the talks with the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud before choosing a new prime minister for Lebanon in succession of Omar Karami who resigned on Monday.

In a statement to al-Jazira TV, Junblat called on Lahoud to resign by his turn and form a provisional neutral government that organizes the partial Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon before May this year.

Lahoud gave the political blocs in the parliament a grace period of 48 hours to agree on a candidate who will preside over a new government.

On the other hand, the Maronite patriarchs council, the major Christian community in Lebanon, stressed the need of founding a neutral interim government in Lebanon. This was in conclusion of its monthly meeting chaired by Patriarch Butrous Sfeir.

In a statement, the council warned against the reluctance in forming a neutral interim government after the resignation of Karami government. It expressed fears over the consequences on the economic situation, in particular.