Nov 11, 2017

Lebanon's president appealed to Saudi Arabia on Saturday to explain why Saad Hariri had not returned to Beirut since his surprise resignation as prime minister a week ago.

Hariri announced on November 4 in a televised statement from Riyadh that he would be stepping down from his post, shocking the Lebanese political class.

The premier has yet to return to Lebanon and rumours have swirled that he was being held in Saudi Arabia against his will.

President Michel Aoun on Saturday called on the kingdom to "clarify the reasons that have prevented the return of PM Hariri to Lebanon to be among his people and supporters."

Aoun has yet to formally accept Hariri's resignation and has criticised the circumstances surrounding it as "unacceptable."