Lebanon’s Hariri leaves Paris for Cairo

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Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri left Paris for Cairo on Tuesday, AFP reported, citing an airport source.

Cairo confirmed earlier on Tuesday that Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet Hariri, before the premier returns to Lebanon to face the political crisis over his resignation.

Hariri had already announced on Twitter that he would be visiting Egypt for the meeting ahead of his planned return home for Lebanon's Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday.

"President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet later in the day with Lebanon's Prime Minister Mr. Saad Hariri," the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi listens to French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire during a meeting in Paris on October 25, 2017. /AFP Photo‍

"The meeting is expected to focus on the latest developments in the region as well as developments in Lebanon."

Hariri announced his surprise resignation on November 4 while in Saudi Arabia, sparking political turmoil in Lebanon and French and Egyptian efforts to mediate.

In his resignation speech he accused Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its powerful Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilizing his country.

After quitting he spent some two weeks holed up in Riyadh, prompting accusations from political rivals that he was being detained by the Saudis.

Hariri strongly denied he was being held against his will and flew to Paris on the weekend to meet President Emmanuel Macron.

His resignation has not yet been officially accepted by Lebanon's president.

Source(s): AFP