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Saad Hariri: Lebanon PM says he is 'on way to airport' to leave Saudi Arabia Saad Hariri: Lebanon PM leaves Saudi Arabia for France two weeks after shock resignation
(about 1 hour later)
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri is reportedly on his way to the airport in Riyadh two weeks after he abruptly quit and fled to Saudi Arabia. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri is understood to be travelling from Riyadh to Paris for a "short break" following an invitation from the French President, Emmanuel Macron. 
The development, reported by AFP, suggests he will soon leave the desert kingdom, though his destination is not yet known. The trip comes two weeks after Mr Hariri abruptly quit and fled to Saudi Arabia, claiming he feared for his life amid increasing pressure from Iran.
Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, had claimed Mr Hariri was being held hostage by the Saudis. Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, had suggested Mr Hariri was being held hostage by the Saudis.
Mr Hariri, who sparked a crisis by resigning as Lebanese prime minister on 4 November during a visit to Saudi Arabia, tweeted: "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..." But Mr Hariri, who sparked a crisis by resigning as Lebanese prime minister on 4 November, tweeted: "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..."
He is apparently heading to Paris, after France extended an invitation, reportedly to put an end to speculation that Mr Hariri was being held against his will.  He is apparently heading to Paris, after Mr Macron extended an invitation, reportedly to put an end to speculation that Mr Hariri was being held against his will. 
Okab Saqr, a member of parliament for Mr Hariri's Future Movement, said that after Mr Hariri's visit to France, he would have "a small Arab tour" before travelling to Beirut. Okab Saqr, a member of parliament for Mr Hariri's Future Movement, said that after the visit to France, he would have "a small Arab tour" before travelling to Beirut.
Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Sweden, said Mr Hariri "intends to return to his country in the coming days, weeks".Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Sweden, said Mr Hariri "intends to return to his country in the coming days, weeks".
Mr Hariri's decision to resign was ostensibly triggered by fears of assassination - the fate which befell his father, the much more popular prime minister Rafic Hariri, in 2005 - and a protest against Hezbollah's growing power both at home and over the border, where it is fighting in Syria’s civil war. Mr Hariri's decision to resign was ostensibly triggered by fears of assassination - the fate which befell his father, the much more popular prime minister Rafic Hariri, in 2005 - and a protest against Hezbollah's growing power both at home and over the border, where it is fighting in Syria’s civil war. 
Many observers, however, believe Riyadh had grown impatient with the prime minister’s inability to contain Hezbollah, and seeks to derail the coalition government. Many observers, however, believe Riyadh had grown impatient with the prime minister’s inability to contain Hezbollah, and seeks to derail the coalition government.