Exclusive: Lebanon believes Saudi holds Hariri demands return
Saad al-Hariri
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon believes  Saad al-Hariri  is held in Saudi Arabia  from where  he  resigned as prime minister  two top Lebanese government officials said  amid a deepening crisis pushing Lebanon onto the frontlines of a power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's prime minister Saad al-Hariri gestures during a press conference in parliament building at downtown Beirut  Lebanon October 9  2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
In a televised statement indicating deep concern at  Hariri âs situation   his  Future Movement political party said  his  return home was necessary to uphold the Lebanese system  describing  him  as prime minister and a national leader.
 Hariri âs shock resignation  read out on television from Saudi Arabia  came as a shock even to  his  aides and embroils Lebanon further in a regional contest between Riyadh and Tehran.
 Hariri âs exit fueled wide speculation that the Sunni Muslim politician  long an ally of Riyadh  was coerced into stepping down by Saudi Arabia as it seeks to hit back against Iran and its Lebanese Shiâite ally Hezbollah.
In his resignation speech   Hariri  denounced Iran and Hezbollah for sowing strife in Arab states and said  he  feared assassination.  His  father  a veteran former prime minister  was killed by a bomb in 2005.
âKeeping  Hariri  with restricted freedom in Riyadh is an attack on Lebanese sovereignty. Our dignity is his dignity. We will work with (foreign) states to return him to Beirut â said the senior Lebanese official  speaking on condition of anonymity because the government had yet to declare this position.
Saudi Arabia says  Hariri  resigned because Hezbollah  which was included in  Hariri âs coalition government  had âhijackedâ Lebanonâs political system.
 Hariri  aides had until Thursday denied  he  was under house arrest but took a dramatically different tone after a meeting of the Future Movement convened at Haririâs Beirut residence on Thursday.
 Hariri âs aunt  Bahia  sat next to Siniora as he read the statement. The party stood behind his leadership  it said.
 Hariri  came to office last year in a political deal that made the Hezbollah-allied Christian politician Michel Aoun head of state and produced a coalition government grouping most Lebanese parties including Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia blessed the government at the time  but has been fiercely critical of the Hariri-led government since  he  stepped down  saying it failed to act against Hezbollah  whose guerrilla army is far more powerful than the weak state.
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends a general parliament discussion in downtown Beirut  Lebanon October 18  2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
Saudi Arabia had wanted  Hariri  to take a tougher stance toward Hezbollah  and  he  failed to do so  the fourth source said. â He  was functioning as if it is business as usual  so the Saudis had to accelerate the process and to force a resignation.â
 Hariri  flew to Saudi Arabia last Friday.
The top Lebanese government official  speaking on condition of anonymity  said: âLebanon is heading toward asking foreign and Arab states to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to release Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.â
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon believes   [TGT] is held in Saudi Arabia  from where   [TGT]   resigned as prime minister  two top Lebanese government officials said  amid a deepening crisis pushing Lebanon onto the frontlines of a power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's prime minister Saad al-Hariri gestures during a press conference in parliament building at downtown Beirut  Lebanon October 9  2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
In a televised statement indicating deep concern at   [TGT]  âs situation   his  Future Movement political party said  his  return home was necessary to uphold the Lebanese system  describing  him  as prime minister and a national leader.
  [TGT]  âs shock resignation  read out on television from Saudi Arabia  came as a shock even to  his  aides and embroils Lebanon further in a regional contest between Riyadh and Tehran.
  [TGT]  âs exit fueled wide speculation that the Sunni Muslim politician  long an ally of Riyadh  was coerced into stepping down by Saudi Arabia as it seeks to hit back against Iran and its Lebanese Shiâite ally Hezbollah.
In his resignation speech   Hariri  denounced Iran and Hezbollah for sowing strife in Arab states and said   [TGT]   feared assassination.   [TGT]   father  a veteran former prime minister  was killed by a bomb in 2005.
âKeeping  Hariri  with restricted freedom in Riyadh is an attack on Lebanese sovereignty. Our dignity is his dignity. We will work with (foreign) states to return him to Beirut â said the senior Lebanese official  speaking on condition of anonymity because the government had yet to declare this position.
Saudi Arabia says  Hariri  resigned because Hezbollah  which was included in  Hariri âs coalition government  had âhijackedâ Lebanonâs political system.
 Hariri  aides had until Thursday denied  he  was under house arrest but took a dramatically different tone after a meeting of the Future Movement convened at Haririâs Beirut residence on Thursday.
 Hariri âs aunt  Bahia  sat next to Siniora as he read the statement. The party stood behind his leadership  it said.
 Hariri  came to office last year in a political deal that made the Hezbollah-allied Christian politician Michel Aoun head of state and produced a coalition government grouping most Lebanese parties including Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia blessed the government at the time  but has been fiercely critical of the Hariri-led government since  he  stepped down  saying it failed to act against Hezbollah  whose guerrilla army is far more powerful than the weak state.
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends a general parliament discussion in downtown Beirut  Lebanon October 18  2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
Saudi Arabia had wanted  Hariri  to take a tougher stance toward Hezbollah  and  he  failed to do so  the fourth source said. â He  was functioning as if it is business as usual  so the Saudis had to accelerate the process and to force a resignation.â
 Hariri  flew to Saudi Arabia last Friday.
The top Lebanese government official  speaking on condition of anonymity  said: âLebanon is heading toward asking foreign and Arab states to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to release Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.â