Lebanon’s prime minister will travel to France after resignation
● Invitation ‘ opens door for resolution of crisis’ says president
Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to come to France after his surprise resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago that stunned Lebanon and rattled the region, the French president’s office announced yesterday.
An official in President Emmanuel Mac ron’ s office said Mr Hariri is expected in France in the coming days.
Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, welcomed Hariri’s decision to accept the invite, saying he hoped it “opened the door for a resolution” of the crisis.
“I wait for the return of president ( of the council of ministers) Hariri to decide the next move regarding the government,” Mr Aoun said during a meeting with journalists.
Aoun had refused to accept Hariri’ s resignation and accused the Saudis of holding him against his will. In his strongest statements yet about the crisis, Aoun said there was no reason for the prime minister not to return to Lebanon.
In Riyadh, Saudi foreign minister Adel al- Jubeir said the kingdom “rejected” alle - gations that it is holding Mr Hariri against his will.
“The accusation that the kingdom would hold a prime minister or a former prime minister is not true, especially a political ally like Saad Hariri,” Mr al- Jubeir said during a press conference with his French counterpart Jean- Yves Le Drian who is visiting Saudi Arabia. Mr Le Drian is expected to meet with Hariri later.
“I don’t know the source of these accusations. But they are rejected and are baseless and untrue,” Mr al- Jubeir said.
He said Mr Hariri is in Saudi Arabia according to his own will. “He leaves when he wants to,” he said.
Mr Hariri is a dual SaudiLebanese citizen.
Mr Hariri announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia nearly two weeks ago, citing concerns over the meddling of Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in regional affairs. He also said he fears for his life.
Saudi Arabia is locked in a feud with Iran over regional influence. Both countries support different groups in Lebanon.
The resignation of Saudialigned Mr Haririw as seen as engineered by Saudi Arabia and raised concerns that it would drag Lebanon, with its delicate sectarian- based political system, into the battle for regional supremacy.
Hezbollah accused the king- dom of seeking to sow chaos in Lebanon.
Mr Al- Jubeir railed against Hezbollah, calling it a “firstclass terrorist organisation” that should lay down its arms and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
“Hezbollah has kidnapped the Lebanese system,” he said.
France, Lebanon’s onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate the crisis.
On Wednesday, Mr Macron invited Mr Hariri and his family to come to France, apparently as a way to put an end to allegations that the prime minister is being held against his will.
The announcement that Mr Hariri will head to France came after Mr Le Drian met the S audi crown prince and the Saudi king. He also metmr Hariri at his home in the Saudi capital Riyadh yesterday.
On Wednesday, the front page of the daily Lebanese AlAkhbar boasted: “Saudi loses,’ hailing the French for their proposal to end the deadlock.