Two weeks after resignation, Lebanese PM suspends notice

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday “suspended” his resignation, which he announced in a televised address on November 4, from Saudi Arabia.

According to Hariri, the latest reversal was as a result of talks held with President Michel Aoun, during a meeting at the Baabda presidential palace, who asked him to “put it on hold ahead of further consultations”.

“Today I presented my resignation to his Excellency the president, and he asked me to temporarily suspend submitting it and to put it on hold ahead of further consultations on the reasons for it”.

“I expressed my agreement to this request, in the hope that it will form a serious basis for a responsible dialogue”, Mr Hariri said.

Read also: ZIMBABWE: Ex-VP to be sworn-in as president on Thursday

Hariri’s announcement sparked controversies while in Saudi Arabia, and he has denied any influence from Saudi Arabia to resign as Prime Minister, and even the rumored detention.

During the televised broadcast in November, Hariri accused Iran of sowing “discord, devastation and destruction” in the region and said he sensed there was an assassination plot against him.

Expressing further that Lebanon required “exceptional effort from everyone” at this time in order to “protect it in confronting dangers and challenges”.

He also reiterated the need to remain committed to Lebanon’s state policy of “dissociation regarding wars, external struggles, regional disputes and everything that harms internal stability” – an apparent reference to the activities of Hezbollah.

 

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