Hariri meets Saudi King Salman in Riyadh on 'post-resignation' visit
Hariri meets Saudi King Salman in Riyadh on 'post-resignation' visit
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has made his visit to Saudi Arabia since his controversial resignation in November from kingdom.
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Hariri has arrived in Riyadh for his first visit since his resignation [AFP]
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Saudi Arabia King Salman in Riyadh Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations, according to local media.
Hariri arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday in his first visit to the kingdom since his resignation - later put on ice - which was announced from Riyadh in November.
His visit came after an invitation by Saudi Arabia envoy Nizar al-Aloula earlier this week, Reuters reported.
Lebanese politicians blamed Saudi Arabia for Hariri's abrupt resignation, saying he had been forced to quit by Riyadh's leadership and held hostage in the kingdom.
Hariri claimed the decision was made after threats to his life. Others believe the Sunni politician was strong armed into quitting by Saudi Arabia who oppose the powerful Lebanese Shia movement, Hizballah.
His resignation threatened to plunge Lebanon into political and economic turmoil.
France intervened in the crisis with Hariri flying to Paris, before heading back to Beirut after brief stops in Egypt and Cyprus.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman claimed the situation has now changed for Hariri, during an interview with the Washington Post.
"Now he's in a better position," he said.
Lebanon has pursued a policy of neutrality in Middle East affairs following the country's devastating civil war.
Hizballah, however, has funneled thousands of fighters into Syria to help prop up Bashar al-Assad's regime leading to political fears in Lebanon.
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