Macron wants Hariri to confirm resignation from Lebanon

French president's call follows Lebanese counterpart's remarks that PM Hariri is being held against his will in Riyadh

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron "wishes" that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri can "confirm" from Lebanon "his willingness to resign, if that is his choice," French government spokesman Christophe Castaner said Wednesday.

Macron's call came as Lebanese President Michel Aoun said earlier on Wednesday Hariri was being held against his will in Saudi capital Riyadh.

"The President of the Republic wishes that the [Lebanese] Prime Minister can reaffirm, confirm, in Lebanon, his willingness to resign, if that is his choice," Castaner told a weekly news conference in Paris.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hariri, who has remained in Saudi Arabia since his abrupt resignation on Nov. 4, tweeted that he was "fine" and plans to return to Lebanon.

"I want to repeat: I am fine and will return to my beloved Lebanon as I promised you, you will see," Hariri tweeted minutes after Aoun issued his statement.

Hariri announced his resignation from the Lebanese premiership in a televised address delivered from Saudi Arabia on Nov. 4. He has yet to return to Lebanon from Riyadh, which had long been considered his chief political patron.

Aoun, meanwhile, has yet to accept Hariri’s resignation amid speculation that the latter was being held against his will by the Saudi authorities.

Kaynak: