The presidents of Syria and Lebanon opened talks Monday on Syrian troop withdrawal from Lebanon, setting in motion the process of implementing Damascus's decision to bring home its 14,000 troops from the neighboring country. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, leading a Lebanese delegation that included the prime minister, parliament speaker and foreign minister, was meeting with President Bashar Assad at the hilltop People's Palace. The Syrian-Lebanese security committee will meet directly after the meetings of the presidents and receiving their instructions, Lahoud's media adviser Rafik Shalala told reporters.
