Aoun: Hariri to «Certainly» Remain Lebanon PM

Local Editor

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun says Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who recently walked back on his shock resignation, will "certainly" remain in office.

During a visit to Rome on Wednesday, Aoun told the Italian daily La Stampa that the political crisis in Lebanon triggered by Hariri's November 4 departure announcement will be "resolved definitely in a few days."

"We have just finished deliberations with all the political forces in the country. There is a wide agreement," the Lebanese president said.

Hariri announced his resignation in a televised announcement broadcast from the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Senior sources close to Hariri and top Lebanese officials said Saudi Arabia had coerced the Lebanese premier into stepping down and put him under house arrest. Aoun refused to accept Hariri's resignation, stressing that he was being detained in Saudi Arabia against his will.

After a nearly three-week absence, Hariri returned to Lebanon on November 22 and put his resignation on hold at Aoun's request to allow for more consultations on the issue.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team