Lebanon president calls on Riyadh to clarify reasons stopping Hariri return

FILE PHOTO: Lebanese President Michel Aoun is seen at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

Thomson Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's president called on Saudi Arabia on Saturday to clarify the reasons preventing Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri returning to Beirut, his office said.

President Michel Aoun said "Lebanon does not accept its prime minister being in a situation at odds with international treaties and the standard rules in relations between states."

Lebanese authorities believe Hariri is being held by Saudi Arabia, from where he quit in a broadcast last week, two top Lebanese government officials, a senior politician close to Hariri and a fourth source have said.

(Reporting by Ellen Francis, editing by Louise Heavens)

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