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Saad Hariri: Lebanon PM flies to France for crisis talks Saad Hariri, Lebanon PM, in France for crisis talks
(about 1 hour later)
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has arrived in France for talks on a crisis sparked by his resignation.Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has arrived in France for talks on a crisis sparked by his resignation.
He quit unexpectedly two weeks ago during a visit to Riyadh, but his resignation has not been accepted. He quit unexpectedly two weeks ago during a visit to Saudi Arabia, but his resignation has not been accepted.
Mr Hariri denied widespread allegations that he was held in Saudi Arabia against his will, tweeting that the claims were "a lie". Mr Hariri denied being held in Riyadh against his will, amid speculation the Saudis had forced him to quit as part of a regional power struggle with Iran.
Lebanon's president said on Saturday that Mr Hariri had told him he would be back in the country by Wednesday.Lebanon's president said on Saturday that Mr Hariri had told him he would be back in the country by Wednesday.
President Michel Aoun said on Twitter that Mr Hariri had told him by telephone that he would return for independence day celebrations.President Michel Aoun said on Twitter that Mr Hariri had told him by telephone that he would return for independence day celebrations.
Mr Hariri is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday morning and then visit a number of Arab capitals. What sparked this crisis?
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has recalled its envoy to Berlin over comments by Germany's foreign minister suggesting Mr Hariri was held against his will. It was during a trip to Saudi Arabia on 4 November that Mr Hariri abruptly announced he was resigning as Lebanon's prime minister.
Sigmar Gabriel made the remarks during a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart. In a televised announcement, Mr Hariri accused Iran of sowing "discord, devastation and destruction" in the region. He also accused Iran's ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah, which is part of a national unity government that Mr Hariri formed last year, of destabilising his nation.
"Saudi Arabia has decided to recall its ambassador to Germany for consultations and will give the German ambassador in the kingdom a letter protesting these unfortunate and unjustified statements," the Saudi state news agency SPA said. He also said he feared for his life. Several members of Hezbollah are being tried at a UN-backed tribunal at The Hague over the car-bomb assassination of Mr Hariri's ex-PM father, Rafik, in 2005.
"Mr Hariri left Riyadh airport on his private jet with his wife and is headed for Le Bourget airport (near Paris)," Future TV announced early on Saturday. President Aoun refused to accept the resignation, accusing the Saudis of holding Mr Hariri against his will. The Saudis and Mr Hariri have denied this.
On Wednesday, President Macron said he had invited Mr Hariri and his family to Paris after the French leader spoke by telephone to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie," Mr Hariri said in a Twitter post.
The French president was later forced to clarify that he was not offering political exile, and that he expected Mr Hariri to stay only "for a few days". Saudi Arabia recalled its envoy to Berlin over comments by Germany's foreign minister suggesting Mr Hariri was being held against his will.
France, Lebanon's former colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate in the crisis. How are the Saudis involved?
Mr Hariri's departure for France marks a new chapter in an extraordinary political crisis which continues to be a source of intense speculation as well as condemnation, the BBC's Lyse Doucet says. Lebanon is a flashpoint in the decades-long struggle between Saudi Arabia - the leading Sunni Muslim power - and largely Shia Muslim Iran for regional influence.
Lebanese officials had earlier said Mr Hariri was being detained in Saudi Arabia - a claim denied as "false" by Riyadh. There have been suggestions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that the Saudis had forced Mr Hariri to resign in an attempt to curb the influence of Iran and Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia has also denied forcing Mr Hariri to resign in an attempt to curb the influence of its regional rival Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, which is part of a national unity government that Mr Hariri formed last year.
Mr Hariri announced his resignation in a televised address from Riyadh, in which he accused Iran of sowing "discord, devastation and destruction" in the region and said he sensed there was an assassination plot against him.
His father Rafik - himself a former Lebanese prime minister - was killed in a car bombing in Beirut in 2005.
Several members of Hezbollah are being tried in absentia at a UN-backed tribunal at The Hague in connection with the attack, though the group has denied any involvement.
Mr Hariri has close ties with Saudi Arabia. He holds both Lebanese and Saudi citizenship, owns properties in the kingdom, and Riyadh is a key backer of his political party, the Future Movement.Mr Hariri has close ties with Saudi Arabia. He holds both Lebanese and Saudi citizenship, owns properties in the kingdom, and Riyadh is a key backer of his political party, the Future Movement.
He left two of his children behind in school in Riyadh when he flew to Paris.
Why is Mr Hariri now in Paris?
The Hariri family also have longstanding ties with France, Lebanon's former colonial ruler.
France had offered to mediate in the crisis, inviting Mr Hariri for the talks.
However, Mr Macron has also had to clarify the invitation, saying France was not offering political exile.
Mr Hariri and his wife arrived overnight from Riyadh on his private jet and were taken to their Paris residence amid tight security, ahead of the meeting with Mr Macron that will take place shortly.
President Aoun welcomed the Paris trip, saying he hoped it would be a "start of a solution".
What happens next?
Mr Hariri has previously indicated that he is going to return to Beirut.
That was reinforced by the Twitter statement from President Aoun.
Mr Hariri will be closely watched on Saturday to see whether he confirms this himself.
After meeting Mr Macron, Mr Hariri is expected to visit a number of Arab capitals.
Mr Aoun, whose party has an alliance with Hezbollah, has said that Mr Hariri can only present his resignation in Lebanon and must stay there while a new government is formed.