Syria completed official pull-out of its troops on Monday, indicating the end of a 29-year invasion in Lebanon that demanded the withdrawal of troops after the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri that took place February 14.

The ceremony of withdrawal was held on Monday on an airbase in the eastern Lebanese town of Rayaq.

``Syria today completes its withdrawal of its security and armed forces to inside the borders of Syria,’’ said General Ali Habib, Syria’s chief of staff.

Syrian troops were sent to Lebanon in 1976 as part of an Arab peacekeeping force in an attempt to cease fire amid the civil war that broke out in the country after several conflicts between Muslims and Christians. The number of soldiers increased, gradually making some officials and especially the country’s opposition say the peaceful forces launched a long-lasting occupation.

The conflict was exacerbated after the former prime minister and the leader of Lebanese opposition Rafik Hariri was killed in the downtown of Beirut in a huge blast that additionally took lives of 16 people.

Thousands of Lebanese took to the streets after the assassination demanding Syrian troops to be withdrawn from Lebanon. The demand was supported by the leading countries of the world, including the US and the EU members.

Syria started the pull-out shortly after the incident, shrinking the number of soldiers in Lebanon to the Mondays 300.