Egypt's Sisi meets Lebanese PM Hariri in Cairo

By Mohammed Al-Rayes

CAIRO

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in Cairo on Tuesday after a three-day visit to France to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Hariri’s arrival in Cairo coincided with the arrival of the Egyptian president from a two-day visit to Cyprus where he attended a tripartite summit with Greece.

Before the meeting, al-Sisi received a phone call from his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun, during which the two sides emphasized “the importance of maintaining Lebanon's stability and the necessity to uphold the Lebanese national interest", according to the official Egyptian news agency.

Lebanon has remained in the throes of an unprecedented political crisis since Hariri announced his resignation on Nov. 4 during a televised address from Saudi Arabia, accusing Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of sowing “sedition” in the region and “meddling” in Arab affairs. He also mentioned an alleged plot to assassinate him.

The Lebanese president has yet to accept Hariri's resignation, who is expected in Beirut on Wednesday for the celebration of National Day.

Saudi Arabia, Hariri’s long-time political patron, is Iran’s arch-foe in the region. Riyadh supports Syria’s armed opposition, while Iran and Hezbollah both support Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime.