Saad Hariri postpones resignation at request of Lebanese President

MENA

Published: 2017-11-22 11:49

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 19:45


Saad Hariri in Beirut on Wednesday (Reuters)
Saad Hariri in Beirut on Wednesday (Reuters)

Lebanon's Saad Hariri said on Wednesday that he has "temporarily suspended" his surprise resignation as prime minister at the request of Lebanese President Michel Aoun.

"I presented today my resignation to President Aoun and he urged me to wait before offering it and to hold onto it for more dialogue about its reasons and political background, and I showed responsiveness," Hariri said in a televised statement.

Hariri, whose resignation on November 4 threw the country into political crisis, arrived in Beirut on Tuesday evening to attend Lebanon's National Day celebrations.

Aoun had insisted that Hariri submit his resignation in person, alleging that it might have been made under duress.

Hariri has denied speculation that his resignation was cooerced by Saudi Arabia in a move to curb the influence of Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah.