Lebanese leader calls for Saudi clarification on Hariri

By Wassim Seifeddine

BEIRUT

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Saturday called on Saudi Arabia to clarify reasons preventing resigned Prime Minister Saad Hariri from returning to Beirut.

“Lebanon does not accept that the prime minister be in a position that is contradictory with international agreements,” Aoun said in a statement issued by his office.

Last week, Hariri abruptly announced his resignation in a televised address delivered from Saudi Arabia.

In his resignation address, Hariri criticized Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, accusing them of sowing “sedition” in the region and meddling in Arab affairs.

Aoun, however, has yet to formally accept the resignation.

On Friday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah claimed that Hariri was being held against his will by Saudi Arabia, which is not allowing him to return to Lebanon.

The Saudi authorities have yet to comment on Nasrallah’s assertions.