Will return to Lebanon on I-Day: Hariri

Paris, November 19 

Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he will return to Lebanon for Wednesday’s Independence Day celebrations and explain his situation, after his shock resignation announcement in Saudi Arabia sparked political turmoil.

Speaking after talks in Paris yesterday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking to broker a way out of the crisis, Hariri said he would “make known my position” once back in Beirut.

“As you know I have resigned, and we will discuss that in Lebanon,” he said, saying he needed to meet with President Michel Aoun before taking further steps.

Hariri’s announcement follows two weeks of deep uncertainty after his surprise decision to step down on November 4. His failure to return to Lebanon since then sparked rumours that he was being held in Riyadh against his will, which both he and Saudi officials denied. — AFP