Hezbollah claims Saudis forced Lebanon PM to resign

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The resignation of Lebanon's premier Saad Hariri was "imposed" by Saudi Arabia, a Shiite Hezbollah leader has claimed.

"It is clear that the resignation was a Saudi decision that was imposed on Prime Minister Hariri," Hassan Nasrallah, head of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, said on Sunday. "It was not his intention, not his wish and not his decision to quit."

Hariri, who has been described as a protege of Riyadh, on Saturday announced his surprise resignation in a broadcast from the Saudi capital. He cited the "grip" of Hezbollah ally Iran on the country, and also said he feared for his life.

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speaks on television, Sunday. /Reuters Photo

"We did not seek this resignation," said Nasrallah, whose powerful movement has participated in Hariri's government for almost a year. In his televised address, the Hezbollah chief did not directly address the accusations leveled by what he called Hariri's "very hard" speech, saying only that these were "a matter for Saudi Arabia."

Hariri, a two-time premier whose father Rafik held the same position for years and was assassinated in 2005, accused both Iran and Hezbollah of seeking hegemony in the region.

Nasrallah questioned the timing of Hariri's announcement at a time when "things are proceeding normally... in the heart of government" in Lebanon.

The resignation sparked fears that Lebanon – split into rivals camps led by Hariri and Hezbollah – could once again descend into violence. But Nasrallah on Sunday called for "calm, patience and waiting until the reasons become clear" for Hariri stepping aside.

A view of downtown Beirut, Lebanon. /Reuters Photo

The Hezbollah leader also questioned why Hariri gave his resignation speech from Saudi Arabia. "Is he at home? Will they let him return? These are legitimate concerns," he said, referring to a purge of princes, ministers and businessmen in Saudi Arabia in an anti-corruption operation.

He said Hariri was expected in Lebanon on Thursday "if they let him return".

Riyadh considers Hezbollah, a close ally of Saudi regional rival Iran, to be a "terrorist" organization. Hezbollah is the only organization in Lebanon to have retained its weapons after the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

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Source(s): AFP