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| Lebanon’s Leader, Still in Saudi Arabia, Claims He’s Free to Go | Lebanon’s Leader, Still in Saudi Arabia, Claims He’s Free to Go |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, whose mysterious sojourn in Saudi Arabia has shaken the Middle East, said in a television interview on Sunday night that he was able to move freely, that he had left Lebanon in order to protect himself and that he would return home “within days.” | BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, whose mysterious sojourn in Saudi Arabia has shaken the Middle East, said in a television interview on Sunday night that he was able to move freely, that he had left Lebanon in order to protect himself and that he would return home “within days.” |
| But the remarks — his first in public since he unexpectedly flew to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 3 and announced his resignation from there a day later — seemed unlikely to clear up the confusion and tension over whether he had acted freely, whether he was in effect a hostage of the Saudis, and whether they had pressured him to resign as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on their regional rival, Iran. | But the remarks — his first in public since he unexpectedly flew to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 3 and announced his resignation from there a day later — seemed unlikely to clear up the confusion and tension over whether he had acted freely, whether he was in effect a hostage of the Saudis, and whether they had pressured him to resign as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on their regional rival, Iran. |
| Those who have questions about his situation were unlikely to be persuaded by the interview carried on the channel of Mr. Hariri’s pro-Saudi political party by Paula Yacoubian, a talk-show host who generally hews to the Saudi line. | Those who have questions about his situation were unlikely to be persuaded by the interview carried on the channel of Mr. Hariri’s pro-Saudi political party by Paula Yacoubian, a talk-show host who generally hews to the Saudi line. |
| Mr. Hariri did not offer clear answers on why he had announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia rather than Lebanon. He also did not provide any new details on what he had described eight days earlier as a plot against his life. He looked pale and tired, with dark circles under his eyes, which often darted to the side, as if looking at someone else in the room. | Mr. Hariri did not offer clear answers on why he had announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia rather than Lebanon. He also did not provide any new details on what he had described eight days earlier as a plot against his life. He looked pale and tired, with dark circles under his eyes, which often darted to the side, as if looking at someone else in the room. |
| Those who are concerned that he may have been pressured or even detained by Saudi Arabia — including Lebanese officials, Western diplomats and some of Mr. Hariri’s political allies — were unlikely to be convinced by anything short of his return to Lebanon. | Those who are concerned that he may have been pressured or even detained by Saudi Arabia — including Lebanese officials, Western diplomats and some of Mr. Hariri’s political allies — were unlikely to be convinced by anything short of his return to Lebanon. |
| Adding to their suspicions, Mr. Hariri’s resignation came on the same day that the assertive Saudi crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, oversaw the arrests of hundreds of Saudis in what he says is a corruption crackdown and critics say amounts to a purge. | Adding to their suspicions, Mr. Hariri’s resignation came on the same day that the assertive Saudi crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, oversaw the arrests of hundreds of Saudis in what he says is a corruption crackdown and critics say amounts to a purge. |
| The resignation announcement was widely seen as a Saudi effort to bring down the coalition government in which Mr. Hariri served along with representatives of the Hezbollah, a Shiite militia and political party — and an ally of Iran. | The resignation announcement was widely seen as a Saudi effort to bring down the coalition government in which Mr. Hariri served along with representatives of the Hezbollah, a Shiite militia and political party — and an ally of Iran. |
| At least five Lebanese televisions stations refused to carry Sunday’s interview, saying it was still unclear whether Mr. Hariri was able to speak freely. | At least five Lebanese televisions stations refused to carry Sunday’s interview, saying it was still unclear whether Mr. Hariri was able to speak freely. |
| Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, had said earlier that anything Mr. Hariri says from Saudi Arabia “does not reflect the truth, and is but the result of the mysterious and dubious situation he is undergoing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and hence cannot be taken seriously.” | Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, had said earlier that anything Mr. Hariri says from Saudi Arabia “does not reflect the truth, and is but the result of the mysterious and dubious situation he is undergoing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and hence cannot be taken seriously.” |
| “I’m free, I could leave tomorrow,” Mr. Hariri told Ms. Yacoubian. He added, however, that information had come to light while he was in Riyadh that persuaded him that he needed to review his security arrangements before returning. Lebanese authorities have said they have no information about a plot against him. | “I’m free, I could leave tomorrow,” Mr. Hariri told Ms. Yacoubian. He added, however, that information had come to light while he was in Riyadh that persuaded him that he needed to review his security arrangements before returning. Lebanese authorities have said they have no information about a plot against him. |
| He had said in his resignation speech on Nov. 4 that there were threats against his life, implying that they came from Hezbollah, which denies allegations that it was involved in the 2005 assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister. He cited the interference in Lebanon by Iran and the dominance of Hezbollah as other reasons for his decision to step down.. | He had said in his resignation speech on Nov. 4 that there were threats against his life, implying that they came from Hezbollah, which denies allegations that it was involved in the 2005 assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister. He cited the interference in Lebanon by Iran and the dominance of Hezbollah as other reasons for his decision to step down.. |
| But in the interview, Mr. Hariri seemed to leave open the question of whether his resignation was final. He said that upon returning to Lebanon, he would resign in person in the proper constitutional manner, but also that he would hold conversations with Mr. Aoun and others and that he could possibly stay in office if Lebanon could follow a policy of neutrality in the region. | But in the interview, Mr. Hariri seemed to leave open the question of whether his resignation was final. He said that upon returning to Lebanon, he would resign in person in the proper constitutional manner, but also that he would hold conversations with Mr. Aoun and others and that he could possibly stay in office if Lebanon could follow a policy of neutrality in the region. |
| Mr. Hariri said that his wife and children were at their family home in Saudi Arabia — he has both Saudi and Lebanese citizenship — and that he had good relations with King Salman and the crown prince. | Mr. Hariri said that his wife and children were at their family home in Saudi Arabia — he has both Saudi and Lebanese citizenship — and that he had good relations with King Salman and the crown prince. |
| His language seemed more conciliatory toward Hezbollah than in his resignation speech, in which he vowed to “cut the hands” of Iran’s allies; instead, he offered the somewhat milder complaint that Hezbollah had not reciprocated when he made compromises within the coalition government. | His language seemed more conciliatory toward Hezbollah than in his resignation speech, in which he vowed to “cut the hands” of Iran’s allies; instead, he offered the somewhat milder complaint that Hezbollah had not reciprocated when he made compromises within the coalition government. |
| Those looking in Sunday’s interview for clues to his Saudi hosts’ intentions noted that Mr. Hariri singled out as a problem Hezbollah’s involvement in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling rebels aligned with Iran. | Those looking in Sunday’s interview for clues to his Saudi hosts’ intentions noted that Mr. Hariri singled out as a problem Hezbollah’s involvement in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling rebels aligned with Iran. |
| The interview came hours after a record number of people had taken part in the annual Beirut Marathon, which for many became a kind of statement of defiance against international interference in Lebanon by any side. | The interview came hours after a record number of people had taken part in the annual Beirut Marathon, which for many became a kind of statement of defiance against international interference in Lebanon by any side. |
| People passed out baseball caps with slogans like “bring back our PM,” or prime minister. The marathon is always billed as a statement of unity and resilience and given the regional tensions, Sunday’s was even more so. | People passed out baseball caps with slogans like “bring back our PM,” or prime minister. The marathon is always billed as a statement of unity and resilience and given the regional tensions, Sunday’s was even more so. |
| Around 47,000 people showed up to run in the Beirut marathon and a number of other shorter races, more than ever before, organizers said. | Around 47,000 people showed up to run in the Beirut marathon and a number of other shorter races, more than ever before, organizers said. |
| “We are all Saad,” and “Running for you” were among the slogans displayed on posters and billboards. |