LEBANON dominated a conference yesterday aimed at boosting support for the Palestinians, as America, France, Russia and other participants spoke out against continued Syrian involvement in the affairs of its smaller neighbour.

Tony Blair succeeded in galvanising the support of 30 countries and international organisations at his one-day conference devoted to the Palestinian Authority yesterday, but key players were distracted by dramatic events in Lebanon.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, used her platform in London to give warning to Syria to pull its troops and security services out of Lebanon and to stop its support for Iraqi insurgents and militant Palestinian groups. She said that there was “firm evidence” of Syrian involvement in last week’s suicide bomb attack against a nightclub in Tel Aviv.

Dr Rice even hinted that Washington could increase existing sanctions against Syria, which she said was isolated and out of step with the democratic trend sweeping the Arab world.

Dr Rice added that there was “a long list of concerns about Syria that is standing in the way of Lebanese, Iraqis, Palestinians and others in their aspirations for a better world”.

Yesterday there was evidence that the pressure was beginning to have an effect in Damascus. President Assad of Syria said that he would withdraw Syrian troops from Lebanon this year.

“It (withdrawal) should be very soon and maybe in the next few months. Not after that. I can’t give you a technical answer. The point is the next few months,” he told Time magazine.

There are about 14,000 Syrian soldiers in Lebanon. While the withdrawal would mark an important step, it would not satisfy Syria’s critics, who demand that all Syrian forces, including their extensive security services, be withdrawn from Lebanon.

In spite of the focus on Lebanon, Mr Blair nevertheless hailed his meeting in London yesterday as a step towards a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, which envisages the creation of a Palestinian state side by side with Israel.

The conference ended with a set of goals agreed by the parties, but little in the way of concrete achievements. The Palestinians have pledged to reform their chaotic administration, streamline their security forces and take steps to strengthen their economy. In return, the international community has promised to help to fund reconstruction programmes, offer expertise and equipment and build up the institutions of the Palestinian Authority so that it can one day become a sovereign government.

Palestinians said that $1.2 billion (£624 million) had been pledged by donors at yesterday’s conference with more to come at a conference to be held in June. Mr Blair said that Britain was boosting its commitment by £10 million to £30 million.

British officials also said that Britain, Jordan and Egypt would contribute expertise and equipment to the rebuilding of the Palestinian security forces, which are being reconstituted from thirteen competing groups into three organisations under one command. Lieutenant-General William Ward, a US Army officer, will oversee the security reform process.

“We have got a script that is clearer today than ever before,” said Mr Blair, who described yesterday’s meeting as laying “the foundation stones” of a Palestinian state.

Mahmoud Abbas, the recently elected Palestinian leader, said that the conference would prove to the Palestinian people that the world had not forgotten their plight, and was determined to help them to build a state of their own.

But perhaps the most striking event of the day was the sight of Dr Rice and Michel Barnier, her French counterpart, announcing that America and France had forged a new alliance. They pledged to join forces to co-ordinate their policy against Syria’s continued presence in Lebanon.

TWO-WAY STREET

PALESTINIAN COMMITMENTS:

• Cut security organisations from thirteen to three, create clear chain of command
• Abolish state security courts, build courts, police stations and prisons
• Pass electoral laws, hold free parliamentary polls
• Fight corruption, cut red tape to attract investment, reduce public spending

  INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS:

• Fund, equip and train security forces
• Give technical and financial support for elections and judicial and administrative reforms
• Hold donors’ conference by end of June
• Help build link between West Bank and Gaza; assist in rebuilding Gaza

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