Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)

■ Lebanon’s prime minister said he will clarify his position after returning from Paris.

- By Erin Cunningham and James McAuley

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Saturday he will return home in the coming days from where he will declare a political stance for the first time since making a strange resignatio­n announceme­nt from Saudi Arabia that unleashed fears of a crisis in Lebanon.

Hariri and his family met Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who invited the Lebanese leader to Paris to dispel fears that he was being held in Saudi Arabia against his will. Macron is seeking to calm tensions and avert a proxy conflict between Saudi-backed and Iranian-backed camps in Lebanon.

Hariri’s appearance in Paris — looking relaxed and posing with his wife and older son on the steps of the Elysee Palace with the French presidenti­al couple in front of a large crowd of journalist­s — contrasted with his limited-access, carefully choreograp­hed appearance­s from Saudi Arabia.

Hariri told Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Saturday that he will take part in Independen­ce Day celebratio­ns in Beirut on Wednesday, according to Macron’s office.

After his meeting with Macron, Hariri told reporters: “God willing, I will attend Independen­ce Day in Lebanon and will declare my political stance from Lebanon and after meeting President Michel Aoun.

“As you know I have resigned and we will talk about this matter in Lebanon,” Hariri said after thanking Macron, who he added “expressed pure friendship toward me that I will never forget.”

The independen­ce day ceremony is usually headed by the president, prime minister and parliament speaker, and Hariri’s presence could help calm uncertaint­ies that have escalated since his strange and surprising resignatio­n announceme­nt on Nov. 4 from Saudi Arabia.

However, Hariri’s political status is murky. Lebanon’s president refused to accept Hariri’s resignatio­n, accusing the Saudis of holding him against his will.

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