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BEIRUT Top Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt on Friday criticised the way Prime Minister Saad al Hariri had been treated by"some Saudi circles", the first time he has appeared to direct blame at Riyadh over Hariri's resignation this month.
Lebanese officials say Saudi Arabia put Hariri under effective house arrest in Riyadh and forced him to declare his resignation on November 4. Saudi Arabia has denied holding Hariri against his will or forcing him to resign.
Hariri shelved his resignation on Wednesday after returning to Beirut this week following an intervention by France.
His resignation had thrust Lebanon to the forefront of the regional tussle between the Sunni monarchy of Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Islamist Iran. Jumblatt also condemned Iranian"dictates", an apparent response to a statement by the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards this week that disarming of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah was out of the question. (Reuters)
