Former President of Lebanon commends al-Hariri resignation

CAIRO– 4 November 2017: Former President of Lebanon, Michel Sleiman, commended on Saturday Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri after his resignation, describing him as brave.

Sleiman demanded to withdraw Hezbollah from Syria, develop a defense strategy and apply the resolutions adopted by the Arab League and Documents of the International Support Group for Lebanon.

Since the abandonment of Baabda Declaration, Lebanon entered a dark tunnel and what has happened threatens the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon, noted Sleiman in a press statement.

“Attempts to build our country are necessary and we all should support them without considering the contentious issues because these issues may lead to collapse,” added Sleiman.

The resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri is a good step to return the Constitution and the National Charter, he mentioned, adding that the Lebanese president Michel Aoun should settle the national and regional issues.

“The economic position after two years and half of presidential vacuum get worse, while in politics we are a democratic country; al-Hariri deserved to be Prime minister,” said Sleiman.

“There a national duty on the ministry of interior to run Parliamentary elections even without the government, indicating that the Lebanese citizens waited for an action from the prime minister,” read Sleiman.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned on Saturday, saying he believed there was an assassination plot against him and accusing Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of sowing strife in the Arab world.

His resignation, a big surprise to Beirut's political establishment, brought down the coalition government and plunged Lebanon into a new political crisis.

The incident thrust Lebanon into the front line of regional competition between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran that has also buffeted Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain. A Saudi government minister said Hariri was in Riyadh to ensure his safety.

Hariri, who is closely allied with Saudi Arabia, alleged in a broadcast from an undisclosed location that Hezbollah was "directing weapons" at Yemenis, Syrians and Lebanese.