Lebanon’s Hariri flies to Paris dropping claims of detention

CAIRO – 18 November 2017: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who announced his resignation on November 4, left Saudi Arabia late Friday heading to Paris, Lebanese Future Movement Party announced.

The Lebanese politician appeared Sunday in an interview with Lebanon’s Future TV, a station affiliated with the Future Movement Party, following claims of his forcible detention in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. He asserted "I am free" and announced that he would return to his country soon. He dismissed reports that his residence in Saudi Arabia was against his will.

Shortly before he left Riyadh, Al-Hariri said on Twitter, “to say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie. I am on the way to the airport Mr. Sigmar Gabriel.”

Germany's foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, said that Hariri was held against his will, during a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has recalled its envoy to Berlin over Sigmar’s comments.

"Saudi Arabia has decided to recall its ambassador to Germany for consultations and will give the German ambassador in the kingdom a letter protesting these unfortunate and unjustified statements," the Saudi state news agency SPA said.

To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie. I am on the way to the airport Mr. Sigmar Gabriel.

— Saad Hariri (@saadhariri) November 17, 2017

He wrote another tweet saying that he considers “the assault of any Saudi citizen or his property as an attack on Saad al-Hariri… I believe the aggressors are a suspicious group, with no purpose but sedition."

The 47-years-old Sunni politician unexpectedly declared his resignation in a pre-recorded message, during his visit to Riyadh. He said in the televised speech that he feared for his life and accused Iran and its proxies of destabilizing his country and the region. Hariri’s resignation has raised regional and international controversy, threatening of a political crisis in Lebanon.

In the Sunday's live interview, Hariri said he planned to return to Lebanon to confirm his resignation in accordance with the constitution. But he also said that if he rescinds his decision to quit, the Hezbollah movement must respect Lebanon's policy of avoiding regional conflicts.

Hariri spoke out following intensive pressure from Lebanese officials, who said his resignation was not accepted because it was declared in Saudi Arabia. He said his resignation was his decision, dismissing reports he was forced to quit a unity government with Hezbollah.

Hariri described his decision to resign as necessary move to “cause a positive shock” to the Lebanese political scene, warning against what he said was Iranian interference that is ruining relations with other Arab countries.

Hariri served as prime minister from 2009 to 2011 and took office again in 2016.