Report: KSA Asks Hariri to Postpone Elections Boycott Decision

KSA has asked ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri to "slow down" and take more time before announcing whether he will participate in the elections, sources said.

The sources told al-Akhbar newspaper, in remarks published Monday, that Saudi Arabia does not necessarily want Hariri to change his position.

"KSA rather wants Hariri to postpone announcing his decision, amid fears that it might push other Sunni leaders to refrain from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections," the sources said.

The sources added that this Saudi initiative has reopened a dialogue between KSA and Hariri, after a long silence.

Riyadh had received in the past few days calls from Lebanese allies asking it to intervene, according to the sources, in urging Hariri to postpone his decision for a couple of weeks.

"Everyone assumed that Hariri will participate in the elections, but now that his decision has crystallized, KSA and other countries are trying to contain the situation," the sources said.

The sources went on to claim that American Ambassador Dorothy Shea will also meet with Hariri to try to dissuade him from his decision.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader is scheduled to deliver a speech today, Monday, at 4:00 pm to announce his decision.

Al-Mustaqbal supporters have been rallying at the Center House since Saturday after reports and politicians said that he is inclined not to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Media reports have said that Hariri, in closed-door meetings, has cited the lack of Saudi financial backing as one of the reasons behind his decision.