Report: Saudis Fiercely Criticized Aoun in Talks with Geagea, Gemayel

Saudi officials fiercely criticized President Michel Aoun and his relation with Hizbullah during recent meetings in the kingdom with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel, a media report published Tuesday said.

“Geagea and Gemayel heard from the Saudis bitter criticism against Aoun during their visits,” sources close to Prime Minister Saad Hariri told al-Akhbar newspaper.

The sources quoted the Saudis as openly saying: “We did not want the president to join the March 14 camp, but we were hoping that he would become centrist, and that's why we did not oppose his election.”

“He surprised us. He is acting as if he is linked ideologically to Hizbullah. He is formally claiming that he is at the same distance from everyone in order to facilitate his presidential tenure, but at heart and at the core he is totally linked to Hizbullah,” the Saudi officials reportedly added.