Prime Minister Resigns Fear of Killing

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Harir has resigned today. In a television broadcast from Saudi Arabia, he declared he feared for his life, while sharply criticising Iran.

Saad al-Harir accused Iran of planting “fear and destruction” in several countries, including Lebanon.

Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri, was killed in 2005. The Hariri family is near Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional competitor.

Hariri has been prime minister since December 2016, having previously held the position between 2009 and 2011.

“We live in a climate similar to the atmosphere that prevailed prior to the assassination of witness Rafik al-Hariri,” he said on the show by Saudi capital Riyadh.

I understand what is secretly plotting against me”

Harry also attacked the Hezbollah-backed Shia movement, which holds considerable power in Lebanon.

Speaking of “Iran and his followers”, he said Lebanon would have “cut off hands that lay badly in it”.

Iran said the resignation would create regional tensions and would reject Harir's charges as groundless “”

Hariri has made several visits during the last few days to Saudi Arabia, whose leadership is strongly opposed to Iran.

His announcement came a day after a meeting in Beirut with Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ajatolah Ali Kamidney.

Taking over the prime minister's office last year, Hariri promised a new “epoca for Lebanon” after two years of political deadlock.

The coalition government he led gathered almost all the main political parties in Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

Rafiq al-Harir was killed by a bomb in 2005 in a widely convicted attack on Hezbollah. /TimeNews