Report: Riyadh Asked Hariri Via Aridi Not to Rush in Decision to Step Down
Saudi officials have reportedly told Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi to inform MP Saad Hariri not to rush in his decision to step down as prime minister-designate.
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat sent Aridi to Saudi Arabia earlier in the week. Aridi met with Saudi Intelligence director Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja, As Safir daily reported.
According to the newspaper, Aridi got the impression that Saudi Arabia is aware of the dangers of a vacuum in Lebanon and wants Hariri to succeed in his mission to form a government that would be able to protect Lebanon from regional developments.
As Safir said that the Saudis asked Hariri through Aridi not to rush in his decision to bow out. It said Hizbullah and Amal had succeeded in convincing the Free Patriotic Movement to make some concessions. But Hariri went ahead with his decision.