Lebanon's Hariri breaks Twitter silence, says returning soon

Lebanon's prime minister has made his first tweet after he made a shock resignation last week from the Saudi capital.

Saad al-Hariri quit during a TV statement, prompting some observers to suggest it was done on Riyadh's orders and there have been reports he is under de facto house arrest in the oil-rich kingdom.

Hariri took to Twitter on Tuesday to reassure Lebanese that he was "doing well" and that he will return home soon.

"Guys, I'm doing very well and God willing I will be back in the next few days. Let's stay calm. My family is staying in their country, Saudi Arabia: the kingdom of good," he said.

Hariri's last message on the social media platform was over a week ago just after he made the shock resignation, which prompted speculation that he is being held against his will under the assertive rule of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has refused to accept the resignation until Hariri returns to the country.

Lebanon has insisted the resignation was forced by Hariri's Saudi patrons - claims he denied in a televised interview on Sunday.

Some Lebanese officials have said he should return with his family, so he could be free of any Saudi pressure.

Hariri's resignation came amid mounting tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Hariri lashed out at Lebanon's militant Hizballah movement in his resignation speech and said he feared for his safety.

Hizballah, an Iran-backed group that is also a member of Hariri's coalition government, has cast his resignation as a Saudi plot to plunge Lebanon into chaos, and has called on him to return.

Hariri, a dual Lebanese-Saudi national, has homes in Saudi Arabia. His wife and children have been living in Saudi Arabia for years.