Bush Warns Against Delaying Lebanese Elections

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush warned Syrian-backed leaders in Lebanon on Monday against postponing next month's elections, and demanded that Syrian troops and security forces fully withdraw from the country.

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"It's important for this election to take place on time," Bush said of the parliamentary poll due in May.

Speaking a day after Syria promised to end its military and intelligence presence in Lebanon by April 30 in line with U.S. and U.N. demands, Bush said: "I appreciate the fact that Syria has expressed its intent to fully leave the country."

He added: "When they say, 'We're going to leave the country,' we expect troops and security forces to leave."

Bush issued his warning about the Lebanese elections unprompted at a news conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.

Syria is pledging to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon after coming under pressure from world leaders and Lebanese protesters following the Feb. 14 assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

"That's an important step," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said of Syria's pledge. "But now we need to see Syria follow through and meet that commitment."

"That's so those elections in May can take place in an environment that is free from outside intimidation or interference," McClellan added.

Prime Minister-designate Omar Karami, who resigned amid the protests only to be reappointed, is still trying to form a government to organize the elections.

Opposition leaders say Karami and other Syrian-backed officials are seeking to postpone the elections because they fear losing their majority in the assembly.

Damascus has already withdrawn at least 6,000 of the 14,000 troops it had in Lebanon. Syria has had up to 40,000 troops in its neighbor since intervening in its civil war in 1976.