Naharnet

Report: Asiri, Aoun Hold Dinner Meeting in Rabieh

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri held on Saturday a dinner meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun at his residence in Rabieh, the Kuwaiti al-Rai daily reported.

The newspaper said Sunday that Asiri visited Aoun in a “remarkable step” after ties between the FPM chief and its ally Hizbullah had deteriorated.

Asiri and Aoun discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, and the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on its neighboring country along with the participation of Hizbullah in the fighting in Syria.

The ambassador renewed his invitation to Aoun to visit Saudi Arabia a few days after the FPM chief hinted that his relations with the Gulf country were improving.

Al-Rai's report came despite news that Asiri was on Saturday attending a dinner at Baabda palace.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said that President Michel Suleiman had thrown a dinner banquet in Asiri's honor.

Aoun told al-Akhbar daily in an interview on Thursday that he had “social ties” with the Saudi embassy.

However, he did not rule out a visit to Riyadh without revealing whether he had received an invitation.


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