The double pressure from the US/French/UN and from an energized and, wonders of wonders, united Lebanese opposition, seems to be doing some good. It's also possible Syria has decided to try to reduce the number of fronts on which it's receiving severe pressure (positioning re future talks with Israel, threats from the US re Iraq, etc.).

One of the points to note is the withdrawal/redeployment of the Syrian security forces including intelligence services for key positions. Have to wait to see what that turns out to really mean, but potentially a major concession to the opposition.

Syria, under intense pressure to quit Lebanon, pulled out its security forces from three key positions in Beirut and north Lebanon on Saturday and redeployed them in eastern Lebanon.

The Lebanese army said in a statement the security positions that were vacated were in Beirut's international airport, the capital's Shi'ite southern suburb and one in northern Lebanon.
[...]
While a September redeployment saw the withdrawal of 3,000 Syrian soldiers from Lebanon, Saturday's move was a rare redeployment of security forces, including the powerful intelligence service. A security source told Reuters that meetings between Syrian and Lebanese officials were still underway and other redeployments could be expected soon. He added that the security forces were moved to the Bekaa Valley close to the Syrian-Lebanese border.
[...]
Opposition groups held a conference in Beirut this week and called on Syrian security forces to "stop interfering in the internal Lebanese politics and especially in the coming (general) election," which is expected to be held in May 2005.

It also called for the resignation of the government, which is seen as having been chosen recently for its loyalty to Syria.

How long for the Lebanese government of Pres Emile Lahoud if they're feeling under sufficient pressure that they have to take these steps? Speaking at a conference on Wednesday,an opposition member and MP, Butros Harb, remarked on the ways the government was responding to increased pressure:

Harb said a new language of metaphors was currently being used, "a sign that close allies to Syria and the authorities have lost their minds facing the Christian-Islamic national opposition."

He added: "This implies the weakness and not the power of the authorities, and means that the authorities will not hesitate to adopt any policy to eliminate the opposition during the upcoming parliamentary elections."

Cross-posted at Liberals Against Terrorism.