Lebanese PM invited to France

BEIRUT >> French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday invited Saad Hariri and his family to come to France after the Lebanese prime minister’s surprise resignation earlier this month, amid allegations that Saudi Arabia is holding him prisoner.

Hariri’s older brother meanwhile broke his silence over the premier’s shock resignation announced from Riyadh earlier this month, after speculation that the elder Hariri was being groomed by Saudi Arabia to fill the post.

Bahaa Hariri, in a statement to The Associated Press, said he supported his brother’s resignation and thanked Saudi Arabia for “decades of support” for Lebanon’s institutions. He accused Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of seeking to “take control of Lebanon.”

Hariri declined to comment further in a phone call.

France, Lebanon’s onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate in the crisis between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Macron said he was not offering Hariri political “exile,” but that it was paramount to dispel fears that Saudi Arabia had taken the Lebanese premier prisoner.

“We need to have leaders who are free to express themselves,” said Macron. “It’s important that (Hariri) is able to advance the political process in his country in the coming days and weeks.”

Macron said the invitation was extended to the premier after discussion between the two and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.