UNITED NATIONS, March 6: Secretary-General Kofi Annan is dispatching a senior envoy to the Middle East for talks on the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, a spokesman announced on Saturday.

UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen would travel to Beirut and Damascus this week "to discuss with Lebanese and Syrian officials the full, complete and immediate implementation of Security Council Resolution 1,559," a spokesman for Mr Annan said in a statement.

The resolution calls for a pullout of all foreign forces from Lebanon as well as an end to all militias and the extension of government control over the whole country.