Lebanese leader set to return

Lebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, has said he will return to his country “within days” amid a political crisis that erupted when he announced his sudden resignation on 4 November in Saudi Arabia.

In a TV interview, Mr Hariri said he had resigned to protect Lebanon from imminent danger.

He said he would return to submit his resignation and seek a settlement with his rivals in the coalition government, the militant group Hezbollah.

But he said withdrawing his resignation would be conditional on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah committing to remaining neutral on regional conflicts.