Lebanese PM Hariri to Depart To Saudi Arabia This Week

Local Editor

Prime Minister Saad Hariri will travel to Saudi Arabia this week on his first visit to the country since his resignation crisis last year, local media outlets reported Tuesday.

Hariri is expected to meet with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud on Wednesday, and hold a meeting with influential Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud on Thursday.

The news comes on the second day of a visit by high-ranking Saudi envoy Nizar al-Aloula, whose Monday meeting with Hariri marked the first between the premier and a senior Saudi official since Hariri's shock resignation from Riyadh on Nov. 4.

Aloula met with former prime ministers Najib Mikati and Tammam Salam Tuesday morning.

He is set to meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Kataeb Party leader MP Sami Gemayel later Tuesday, in addition to former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and former minister Ashraf Rifi, local media reported.

He met with President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace Monday, with discussions centered on improving Lebanese-Saudi relations, which have taken a hit since the resignation due to allegations Saudi authorities detained Hariri in the kingdom.

Local media said that Aloula would depart Beirut on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team