French Minister: Hariri 'Free to Move Around'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who resigned at the weekend, is "free to move around", French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday amid rumors he was being held against his will in Saudi Arabia.

"He went to Abu Dhabi the day before the President (Emmanuel) Macron's visit (on Wednesday) so we think he's free to move around," Le Drian told Europe 1 radio.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday demanded the return of Hariri from Saudi Arabia, where he announced his plans to step down in a shock decision on Saturday.

In his televised speech made from Saudi Arabia, Hariri said he was stepping down because of Iran's "grip" on Lebanon and threats to his life, but the comments led to immediate speculation about Saudi pressure.

Al-Akhbar newspaper, which is close to Iranian-backed movement Hizbullah, suggested that Hariri, who holds Saudi nationality, was being held "hostage" in Riyadh.

Macron made a surprise overnight trip to Saudi Arabia on Thursday-Friday during a Middle East tour that saw him attend the inauguration of the new Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

"The Lebanese situation is the most worrying subject of the moment," Le Drian added in his interview on Friday morning.

Hariri's announcement raised fears that Lebanon -- split into rival camps led by Hariri and Hizbullah -- could once again descend into violence.

Lebanon "was moving towards a new solution with a new constitution, elections to come. The departure of Prime Minister Hariri creates new uncertainties," Le Drian added.

Hariri's resignation came amid an intensifying proxy war between Saudi Arabia and regional arch rival Tehran who have long vied for influence in Lebanon.

The Sunni leader had been sharing power with Hizbullah in hard-won national unity government, but the arrangement had come under increasing fire from Saudi Arabia.