BEIRUT, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A setback was reported in restoring diplomatic ties between Lebanon and Syria as Damascus has rejected four Lebanese ambassador candidates, Lebanon's Naharnet website reported Thursday.

The process of exchanging ambassadors between the two countries has come to a standstill, informed sources were quoted as saying.

Lebanon and Syria have agreed in mid October to establish diplomatic ties for the first time since their independence from French colonialism. Official statements have said embassies would be opened before the end of 2008.

The sources said that the rejection of some Lebanese majority leaders from the March 14 Forces toward Interior Minister Ziad Baroud's visit to Damascus was based on their knowledge of the Syrian intentions.

Baroud's recent visit to Syria have raised controversies over the revival of Syria's 29-year political and military clout in Lebanon, which ended with the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the close neighbor in 2005.

The Lebanese interior minister and his Syrian counterpart, Bassam Abdel-Majid, agreed to set up a commission to follow up the basis of coordination in the fight against terrorism and crime, according to a statement read to reporters after their meeting Monday.

The commission would also establish a joint mechanism to police the borders and prevent smuggling.