Lebanese Prime Minister withdraws resignation

The Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri

18 days after quitting on Saudi Arabian television, the Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri, has withdrawn his resignation.

Hariri jetted back to Beirut yesternight after some insinuated that he was being held in Riyadh against his will.
Speaking to a large crowd of supporters outside his home, he promised that he would stay on to protect the country's ''stability.''

When he resigned, Hariri had alleged that his life had been threatened.  He also accused Iran and Hezbollah of seeking to control Lebanon.


His failure to return to Lebanon in order to tender his resigation to President Aoun had led many to believe that Hariri's move had been forced on him by Saudi Arabia.  The Saudis are the srongest backers of his Sunni Muslim-led Future Movement.

Mr Hariri, 47, stated that he would ''put his resignation on hold.''

Mr Hariri and the French president