Hariri’s Resignation a Saudi Decision: Nasrallah

BEIRUT- Hizbollah Secretary General  Hassan Nasrallah has stressed that the resignation of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri was a Saudi decision and it was clear that he was forced to resign.

Commenting on Hariri’s resignation, Nasrallah said “we have to find out the reason behind Hariri’s resignation in Saudi Arabia not in Lebanon,” pointing out that it is the right of every Lebanese citizen to ask about the fate of Hariri in the light of reports about arresting tens of Saudi princes, ministers and businessmen.

 According to press TV, Nasrallah said Lebanon’s prime Minister has been under pressure to resign his post.

Saad Hariri announced his resignation through a televised statement from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, citing fears about his life and accusing Iran and the Hezbollah movement of interfering in internal affairs of Arab countries.

Nasrallah noted that the announcement of Hariri’s resignation came after a number of visits to Saudi Arabia, adding that the text and style of his resignation clearly showed that it was not his own text and was a Saudi text dictated to the Lebanese prime minister.

 “So far, we have reached the conclusion that nobody in Lebanon knows what the real reason behind Hariri’s resignation is and everybody has been taken by surprise in this regard,” Hezbollah leader noted.

“Some people in Lebanon say the prime minister has been angry with some people and currents, but these remarks are not accurate and the main reason behind his resignation should be sought in Saudi Arabia,” he added.

The Hezbollah leader noted that resignation of Hariri may have been a result of the power struggle in Saudi Arabia or the result of the fact that Riyadh was not satisfied with his performance and had decided to see another person in his place.

Nasrallah said that resignation of Hariri was a plan by Saudi Arabia in order to replace him with somebody else.

It is also possible that they want to disturb security in Lebanon and launch a war in the country like the war that has been waged in Yemen, he said.

In view of the above facts, Nasrallah noted, Hezbollah first of all calls on all parties to be patient until the real reason behind Hariri’s resignation is made clear.

Secondly, he said, Hezbollah seeks peaceful life in Lebanon and advised Lebanese people not to be afraid of the possibility of a new war in the country.

“Hezbollah is totally responsible and we ask everybody to remain calm and protect the country’s security and peaceful life in Lebanon,” he added.

Nasrallah advised all political groups and currents in Lebanon to avoid any measure that would disturb order and peace in the country, emphasizing that pressures exerted on Hezbollah will not make it to change course and alter its policies.

The leader of Hezbollah also warned against a return of political groups to old times and resorting to street rallies, assuring that such rallies, if take place, would not solve any problem.

He added that President Michel Aoun and parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, were doing their job without any problem and were awaiting Hariri’s return from Saudi Arabia, “if he is allowed to come back.”

“All of us must remain calm within legal frameworks … and I don’t think that there is any party to clan in Lebanon whose interests are in Lebanon returning to chaotic conditions of the past,” he noted.

Nasrallah said any effort to disturb security and calm in Lebanon would not be in favor of people and would simply serve the masters of those groups that may seek insecurity in the country.

The Lebanese Hezbollah leader said the sole source that has talked about a possible attempt on Hariri’s life was the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya network while the Lebanon’s army has not been able to find any clue to prove that such a plot exits.

Refuting claims that Hariri’s resignation was plotted by Israel to wage a new war on Lebanon, Nasrallah said if Israel wanted to wage a war, it would do so on the basis of its own calculations and it would not have anything to do with Hariri’s resignation.

He also stated that Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition were also not possible to wage a war on Lebanon because they had no geographical access to the country.

Nasrallah emphasized that if Saudis could do anything, they would have done it in Yemen where the country is caught in a serious mire and is unable to achieve its goals.

The Lebanese army announced on Sunday that it had not uncovered any assassination plots in the Arab country, noting in a statement that intelligence in its possession in addition to ongoing arrests and investigations had not revealed “the presence of any plan for assassinations in the country.”

H.M