Lebanese president insists that Hariri will stay in office

Lebanon’s President said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri will remain in office, noting that the political crisis in the country will end next week. Michel Aoun made his remarks during an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa in Turin. He is in Italy for a three-day official visit.

“We have concluded extensive consultations with all political forces inside and outside the government, and the crisis will end next week,” explained Aoun. “There has never been any political vacuum, and all sides have given me full powers.”

With regard to Hariri’s unscheduled stay in Saudi Arabia, the President pointed out that having demanded his return but receiving no response, he and his colleagues turned to the international community. “We could only to resort to the Vienna Convention which protects heads of state and government officials abroad,” he added.

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