MP Saad Hariri has welcomed an agreement between Lebanon and Syria to begin negotiations on demarcating their border and to normalize relations, stressing the need for an end to Syrian tutelage.

Hariri described the deal struck on Thursday as a "historic step toward rectifying relations," but added a warning that Damascus must not interfere in Lebanon in the future.

The agreements to negotiate the border and to establish diplomatic ties were announced during a two-day visit by President Michel Suleiman to Damascus for talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad, the first such visit by a Lebanese head of state in three years.

"It is time ... for (Syrian) tutelage to end once and for all," said Hariri, whose father, former Premier Rafik Hariri was killed by a 2005 bombing that some in Lebanon blame on Syria. Damascus denies any role.

Premier Fouad Saniora also described the exchange of embassies "as a good thing."

"It is a Lebanese and Syrian demand. We should be happy," he said, adding that it was too early to discuss about the full results of Suleiman's visit to Damascus.(Naharnet-AP)