Beirut bids to clarify premier's ‘mystery’ resignation

By Mohamed al-Rayyes

CAIRO

Lebanon’s foreign minister on Wednesday described Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s prolonged absence as “mysterious”.

Speaking to Egypt’s state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, Gebran Bassil said: “It is the first time in the history of the republic that an official announces his resignation from abroad.”

Hariri’s announced his abrupt resignation from Saudi Arabia on Nov. 4. He has yet to return to Lebanon from Riyadh, which had long been considered his chief political patron.

According to Bassil, Hariri’s return to Lebanon has now become a “national priority”.

Bassil said Lebanon had launched a campaign to explain “the circumstances of Hariri’s resignation from abroad within the context of current events”.

He added: “It will also stress the need to respect the international agreements and conventions that regulate political relations between states and ensure total immunity for sovereign state officials.”

On Tuesday, Bassil began a European tour that has already taken him to Brussels and Paris.

He is also slated to visit London and Moscow with a view to clarifying Lebanon’s ambiguous political circumstances and calling for Hariri’s return.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has yet to accept Hariri’s resignation amid speculation that he is being held by the Saudi authorities against his will.

Earlier this week, Hariri denied suggestions that he was being held hostage, insisting that he would return to Beirut “soon”.

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

In earlier remarks, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had said there was “no reason” for Hariri to step down, accusing Saudi Arabia of forcing him to resign.

Last week, Saudi Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan dismissed the claims, describing them as "lies" disseminated by Hezbollah.

Hariri was appointed Lebanese prime minister late last year. Before his resignation, he had led a 30-member government that included Hezbollah representatives.

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