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I am free in Saudi, will return home very soon, ex-Lebanese PM says

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Speaking publicly for the first time, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri who resigned his role moments after arriving Saudi Arabia has denied claims that he is being held against his wish in the oil rich country.

Hariri while speaking from Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, warned that his country was at risk of Gulf Arab sanctions because of the Shi‘ite group Hezbollah’s regional meddling.

He also pledged to return to Beirut “very soon” to affirm his decision to quit as Lebanon’s prime minister.

Read also: Saudi forced Lebanon PM’s resignation for refusal to confront Hezbollah, plans to replace him with his elder brother, sources say

“Here in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I am free. I have complete freedom, but I want to look after my family as well,” he said, adding that he planned to return to Lebanon in the near future,” he said on Future TV, a station affiliated with his political party, Hariri said he was free in Saudi Arabia.

Hariri added that; “I’m not talking about months … I’m only talking about days and I’ll go back to Lebanon.”

According to Hezbollah movement leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Saudi is holding Hariri against his will, saying it wished for him to have “all his freedom of movement and be fully able to play the essential role that is his in Lebanon”.

Nasrallah added that Hariri, a long-time Saudi ally insulted his compatriots when he declared his resignation while in Riyadh last Saturday, and he must return to Lebanon.

 

 

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