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France's President Macron begins Saudi visit, amid Lebanon crisis France's Macron makes surprise Saudi visit amid Lebanon crisis
(about 2 hours later)
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will stress the importance of stability in Lebanon as he began an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia. French President Emmanuel Macron has paid an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia amid an escalating crisis between the kingdom and Lebanon.
This comes after Lebanese PM Saad Hariri resigned on Saturday while in Riyadh, saying he feared for his life. His trip comes days after Lebanese PM Saad Hariri resigned while in Riyadh, saying he feared for his life.
This prompted suspicions that Mr Hariri was pressured by the Saudis to resign. Foes Saudi Arabia and Iran have accused each other of fuelling instability in Lebanon and the wider region.
Mr Macron also said he would discuss the crisis in Yemen with Saudi leaders, after the Saudi-led coalition shut all aid routes to the war-torn nation. Mr Macron and Saudi officials also discussed the crisis in Yemen, where Riyadh is leading a war against rebels.
The blockade was imposed on Monday after a missile was fired from Yemen at Riyadh. The missile was reportedly intercepted near the Saudi capital. France has historical ties with Lebanon, as its former colonial power before it gained independence during World War Two.
Saudi Arabia has blamed the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for the attack. The French president was in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to open the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a spin-off of the famous Paris art museum.
The UN has warned that Yemen faces the world's largest famine in decades "with millions of victims" if the blockade is not lifted and aid deliveries are not resumed. Speaking there, he announced his unexpected two-hour trip to Riyadh to hold face-to-face talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and "emphasise the importance of Lebanese stability and integrity".
In a separate development, Saudi Arabia on Thursday told its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately.
Many Lebanese fear that their country is becoming embroiled in a wider conflict between Saudi Arabia, a major Sunni power, and Shia-led Iran, its biggest regional rival.
Speaking in the United Arab Emirates shortly before departing for Saudi Arabia, Mr Macron said he would hold face-to-face talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mr Macron said he would "emphasise the importance of Lebanese stability and integrity".
"My wish is that all Lebanese political officials live freely in Lebanon... which means having a very demanding stance on those who could threaten any leader", he added."My wish is that all Lebanese political officials live freely in Lebanon... which means having a very demanding stance on those who could threaten any leader", he added.
The French president added that he had been in informal contact with Mr Hariri. Saudi Arabia's blockade on Yemen was tightened on Monday after a missile was fired from Yemen at the Saudi capital, Riyadh - which the Saudi government blamed on Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and its chief backer Iran.
Mr Hariri said in a TV broadcast from Saudi Arabia on Saturday that he was stepping down because of an alleged assassination plot. The missile was intercepted near the Saudi capital.
The UN has warned that Yemen faces the world's largest famine in decades "with millions of victims" if the blockade is not lifted and aid deliveries are not resumed.
In a separate development on Thursday, Saudi Arabia told its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately.
There are fears Lebanon could become embroiled in a wider regional confrontation between major Sunni power Saudi Arabia and Shia-dominated Iran.
Mr Macron is a keen supporter of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, which both the Saudis and the Trump administration have heavily criticised.
Ahead of his visit, Mr Macron said that he had heard "very harsh opinions" on Iran from Saudi Arabia, which did not match his own view. "It is important to speak with everyone," he added.
But an official communiqué from his office following the visit did not mention Iran at all, French newspaper Le Monde reported.
Assassination plot
The French president added that he had been in informal contact with Saad Hariri.
Mr Hariri said in a TV broadcast on Saturday that he was stepping down because of an alleged assassination plot.
In the video statement, Mr Hariri also attacked Hezbollah, which is politically and militarily powerful in Lebanon, and Iran.In the video statement, Mr Hariri also attacked Hezbollah, which is politically and militarily powerful in Lebanon, and Iran.
Mr Hariri's father and former prime minister Rafik was killed by a bomb in 2005 in an attack widely blamed on Hezbollah.Mr Hariri's father and former prime minister Rafik was killed by a bomb in 2005 in an attack widely blamed on Hezbollah.
Mr Hariri has made no further statement so far, but his office says he has been having meetings with foreign diplomats in Riyadh.Mr Hariri has made no further statement so far, but his office says he has been having meetings with foreign diplomats in Riyadh.
BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says the Saudi call for its nationals to leave Lebanon will fuel further tension in that country where concern over Mr Hariri's circumstances has been growing.
Hours later Saudi Arabia's neighbouring Gulf state and ally Kuwait issued a similar statement.Hours later Saudi Arabia's neighbouring Gulf state and ally Kuwait issued a similar statement.
'Stop Saudi aggression' But Hezbollah accused the Saudis of orchestrating Mr Hariri's resignation. Saudi Arabia, in turn, has accused Hezbollah of launching the missile intercepted near the Saudi capital from Yemen.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia accused Hezbollah of launching a missile from Yemen which was intercepted near the Saudi capital Riyadh, CNN reported.
A day later Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused Iran of "direct military aggression" by supplying missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.A day later Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused Iran of "direct military aggression" by supplying missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Iran has dismissed the Saudi allegations as "false and dangerous".Iran has dismissed the Saudi allegations as "false and dangerous".
Meanwhile, Hezbollah accused the Saudis of orchestrating Mr Hariri's resignation.