Nasrallah: Hariri’s resignation ‘illegal’
President Michel Aoun told Saudi Arabia’s envoy on Friday that Saad al-hariri must return to Lebanon and the circumstances surrounding his resignation as prime minister while in Saudi Arabia were unacceptable.
The Lebanese authorities believe Hariri is being held in Saudi Arabia, two top Lebanese government officials, a senior politician close to Hariri and a fourth source told Reuters.
Since Hariri’s announcement on Saturday, Saudi Arabia has accused Lebanon of declaring war on it. Riyadh has advised Saudi citizens not to travel to Lebanon, or if already there to leave as soon as possible. Other Persian Gulf states have also issued travel warnings.
Those steps have raised concern that Riyadh could take measures against the tiny Arab state.
Lebanon, where Sunnis, Shias, Christians and Druze, all backed by rival regional powers, fought a civil war from 1975-1990, maintains a governing system designed to ensure each group is represented.
An “international support group” of countries concerned about Lebanon, which includes the United States, Russia and France, appealed for Lebanon “to continue to be shielded from tensions in the region.” In a statement, they also welcomed Aoun’s call for Hariri to return.
During the meeting with the Saudi envoy, Aoun expressed concern over reports about Hariri’s circumstances and urged clarification, presidential sources said.
Hariri’s resignation unraveled a political deal among rival factions that made him prime minister and Aoun, a political ally of the Hezbollah resistance movement, head of state last year. The coalition government included Hezbollah.
On Thursday, Hariri’s Future Movement Party said his return home was necessary to uphold the Lebanese system, describing him as prime minister and a national leader.
Aoun has refused to accept the resignation until Hariri returns to Lebanon to deliver it to him in person and explain his reasons.
Top Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt said on Friday it was time that Hariri returned to Lebanon. After a week of absence, “be it forced or voluntary,” it was “time for Sheikh Saad to return,” Jumblatt said on Twitter. “By the way, there is no alternative to him,” he added.
Unconstitutional resignation
Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that Hariri is currently detained in Saudi Arabia and that his “forced” resignation is unconstitutional because it was done “under pressure,” Al Jazeera reported.
Speaking in Beirut on Friday, Nasrallah said he was sure that Hariri was forced to resign as part of Saudi Arabia’s policy of stoking sectarian tensions in Lebanon.
Nasrallah said Hariri is being prevented by Saudi officials from returning to Lebanon, which is why “we deem the resignation of Hariri illegal and invalid.”
“We declare that the prime minister of Lebanon has not resigned,” he said.
Nasrallah also said “Lebanon had enjoyed unprecedented stability over the past year.”