LONDON -- The United States and France ratcheted up pressure on Syria Tuesday, calling for an immediate and total withdrawal of all Syrian military and intelligence personnel from Lebanon and deployment of international monitors to observe Lebanon's crucial spring election.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said that Washington and Paris are looking at what can be done to stabilize Lebanon in the event of Syria's withdrawal, hinting at possible support for a United Nations or international presence to assist in a transition or fill a security void.

At a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, she said their staffs would meet later Tuesday to look specifically at what the two nations can do to help ensure Lebanon has a free and fair election. They will also explore possible steps to help "stabilize" Lebanon if Syria does comply with U.N. resolution 1559, which calls for the withdrawal of Syrian troops.

In a statement issued after the press conference, the United States and France also called for a "full, credible and transparent" investigation into the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Hariri's murder last month triggered the outpouring of calls for Syria's withdrawal as well as the resignation of Lebanon's government Monday.

They also demanded "complete cooperation" from Lebanon's government and "all parties" to ensure that all responsible are "brought swiftly to justice."

The joint call for withdrawal of Syrian intelligence personnel, issued at the outset of a one - day conference on the Mideast here in London, was unusually pointed. It reflected U.S. and French concern that a pullout of the 14,000 remaining Syrian troops -- down from a high of 42,000 -- will not eliminate Syria's effective dominance of Lebanon's political and economic system as long as Syrian agents are operating in the country.

Citing full support for the Lebanese people's pursuit of an "independent, democratic and sovereign Lebanon," the joint U.S.-French statement said President Bush and President Jacques Chirac agreed to work "urgently together" and with the international community to help Lebanon "reach that fundamental goal."

The two nations, divided over Iraq policy, said in the statement that they are united in their insistence that the Lebanese people "must have the opportunity to make their own political choices, without threats of violence or intimidation."

"They must have the opportunity to chart their own course through free and fair parliamentary elections this spring, bolstered by an international observer presence prior to and during the elections."

At the brief press conference, Rice said that events in Lebanon are now "moving in an important direction" as the Lebanese publicly express their desire for an end to Syria's domination. "This is something we support very much," she told reporters.

By Robin Wright
Washington Post