Report: Hariri's Relatives Say He Will be Back in Days

Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who submitted his resignation on November 4 from Saudi Arabia, will reportedly return to Lebanon within two days, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.

Quoting sources “close to Hariri,” the daily said that the Premier's family had received information confirming that he would return to Lebanon withing 48 hours to submit his resignation to President Michel Aoun, noting that the next step remains indeterminate on whether he will stay in Beirut or travel to SA or France.

There have been no details on whether Hariri's wife and children would accompany him to Beirut or stay in the kingdom, according to the daily.

Hariri had announced on his twitter account on Tuesday that he is “doing very well” and that he will return from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon within days.

He noted that his “family are in their home in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the kingdom of goodness.”

In his first TV interview since he announced a surprise resignation from Riyadh on November 4, Hariri said Sunday he will return to Lebanon to seek a new settlement with President Michel Aoun and Iran-backed Hizbullah.

Hariri, looking downcast and tired, denied he was being held against his will in the kingdom and said he was compelled to resign to save Lebanon from imminent dangers, which he didn't specify.

He held back tears at one point and repeated several times that he resigned to create a "positive shock" and draw attention to the danger of siding with Iran in regional conflicts.

Hariri sounded less belligerent in Sunday's interview than he did during the resignation announcement.

A political crisis has gripped Lebanon since Hariri read his televised resignation from Saudi Arabia in which he accused Iran of meddling in Lebanon in a vicious tirade that was uncharacteristic of the usually soft-spoken premier.

Aoun and other Lebanese officials have refused to accept Hariri's resignation until he returns to the country.

Lebanese officials have insisted the resignation was forced by Hariri's Saudi patrons and that he is being kept in the kingdom against his will. Hariri denied this on Sunday, stressing that he is “free.”