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Lebanon: Hariri retracts resignation

December 5, 2017 at 1:41 pm

Saad Hariri speaks at a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon on 21 November 2017 [Stringer/Apaimages]

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri rescinded his resignation today and said all members of the government had agreed to stay out of conflicts in Arab countries.

Hariri quit his job in a broadcast from Saudi Arabia a month ago but later said he might withdraw the resignation, providing all parties in Lebanon’s government agree to adhere to the state’s policy of “dissociation” from regional conflicts.

The Lebanese government said in a statement read by Hariri: “The cabinet thanks its leader [Hariri] for his position and for revoking his resignation.”

“All [the government’s]political components decide to dissociate themselves from all conflicts, disputes, wars or the internal affairs of brother Arab countries, in order to preserve Lebanon’s economic and political relations,” Hariri said.

Lebanese officials said Saudi Arabia had coerced Hariri, a long-time ally of the kingdom, into resigning and held him there against his will until an intervention by France led to his return to Lebanon. Saudi Arabia denies this.

Read: Hezbollah welcomes Hariri’s return to Lebanon