Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991
  and the end of the devastating 16-year civil war.

  Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have
  established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a
  greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the
  government.

  Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful
  elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the
  Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority
  over about two-thirds of the country.

  Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about 20,000
  troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.

  Syria's troop deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's
  civil war and in the Ta'if Accord.
 
  Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's
  requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
  constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from its security zone
  in southern Lebanon in May of 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese
  Christians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well.