Reports: U.S., France Urge Miqati Not to Resign

Washington and Paris have contacted Prime Minister Najib Miqati in the wake of the diplomatic crisis with KSA to urge him "not to resign," media reports said on Saturday.

The U.S. and France, however, told Miqati that "it is necessary to address the new problem with Saudi Arabia," al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

Quoting "sources linked to the Saudi regime," al-Akhbar added that "Riyadh wants to topple Najib Miqati's government."

Hizbullah has meanwhile told Miqati, according to the daily, that "any effort to sack the information minister in Cabinet would lead to the resignation of Hizbullah's ministers."

"Attempts were made to press ex-MP Suleiman Franjieh, seeing as he had named Kordahi to his post, but the Marada chief refused to press the minister into resignation, telling him that he would back his stance no matter what it would be," al-Akhbar added.

MTV meanwhile said that several government officials have called Arab officials asking them to give them some time to "secure Kordahi's resignation or else the entire government would resign."

Pro-Hizbullah journalist Salem Zahran for his part said that a phone call took place between Miqati and Kordahi and that the latter told the premier that he will not resign because he "did nothing wrong."

"The government was on the brink of collapse if it wasn't for a phone call between Beirut and the Elysee, which gave a sruvival dose to the government," Zahran added.

"The French said that they will intervene to find some sort of settlement in Lebanon," he added.

He also said that "Hizbullah will not leave Kordahi alone" and that "the government's survival hinges on its premier's resilience."