Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement, said on Sunday the previous day's resignation of the country's premier Saad Hariri had been "imposed" by Saudi Arabia.

"It is clear that the resignation was a Saudi decision that was imposed on Prime Minister Hariri. It was not his intention, not his wish and not his decision" to quit, Nasrallah said in a televised address.

 

Hariri, a protege of Riyadh, on Saturday announced his surprise resignation in a broadcast from the Saudi capital.

He cited the "grip" of Hezbollah ally Iran on the country, and also said he feared for his life.

"We did not seek this resignation," said Nasrallah, whose powerful movement has participated in Hariri's government for almost a year.

The Hezbollah chief did not directly address the accusations levelled by what he called Hariri's "very hard" speech, saying only that these were "a matter for Saudi Arabia".

Hariri, a two-time premier whose father Rafik held the same position for years and was assassinated in 2005, accused both Iran and Hezbollah of seeking hegemony in the region.

Nasrallah questioned the timing of Hariri's announcement at a time when "things are proceeding normally... in the heart of government" in Lebanon.

The resignation sparked fears that Lebanon -- split into rivals camps led by Hariri and Hezbollah -- could once again descend into violence.

But Nasrallah on Sunday called for "calm, patience and waiting until the reasons become clear" for Hariri stepping aside.

The Hezbollah leader also questioned why Hariri gave his resignation speech from Saudi Arabia.

"Is he at home? Will they let him return? These are legitimate concerns," he said, referring to a purge of princes, ministers and businessmen in Saudi Arabia in an anti-corruption operation.

- Tussle for influence -

He said Hariri was expected in Lebanon on Thursday "if they let him return".

Riyadh considers Hezbollah, a close ally of Saudi regional rival Iran, to be a "terrorist" organisation.

The Saudi-Iran tussle for influence has also played out in ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Hezbollah is the only organisation in Lebanon to have retained its weapons after the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

Nasrallah on Sunday played down the risks of conflict between rival camps in Lebanon or with his movement's arch-foe Israel.

"Do not listen to alarmist speeches ... do not worry, there is nothing to worry about," he said.

"We will react responsibly and calmly... we are concerned about the security" of Lebanon, Nasrallah added.

On Israel, he said the Jewish state "will not embark on a war against Lebanon unless it is guaranteed a quick, decisive and inexpensive war".

Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 engaged in a brief but costly summer war, and for months Israeli leaders have been threatening a new conflict in Lebanon.

It remains unclear who will succeed Hariri as prime minister in Lebanon.

Under the power-sharing system that helped end Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, the president must be a Christian, the premier a Sunni and the speaker of parliament a Shiite.

source: AFP