Hariri signals he may withdraw resignation 'next week'

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri signalled on Wednesday night that he may withdraw his resignation next week, saying matters were "positive".

Hariri's shock resignation on 4 November from Saudi Arabia threw his coalition government and the country into crisis, but he rescinded the move after returning home allowing time for negotiations.

"Matters are positive, as you hear, and if this positivity continues we will announce, God willing, to Lebanese next week with President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri the withdrawal of the resignation," Hariri said on Wednesday.

He was speaking during a celebration to mark the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Aoun was quoted as saying that Hariri would "certainly" remain prime minister and Lebanon’s political crisis will be resolved in a few days.

"We have just finished talks with all the political forces, within and outside government. There is a broad agreement," the newspaper La Stampa quoted him as saying during a visit to Italy.

Aoun did not accept Hariri's televised resignation, accusing Saudi Arabia of holding Hariri in Riyadh and forcing him to step down.

Hariri eventually returned to Beirut on 22 November and postponed his resignation.

On Saturday Hariri demanded that his coalition ally Hizballah remove itself from regional conflicts, issuing a statement saying he would not tolerate actions that might "affect our Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries".

He did not reveal which countries he meant, but Hizballah are backing Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria and aiding the Iraqi army and militias.

Asked about that demand, Aoun - a Hizballah ally - said: "Hizballah has fought against Islamic State terrorists in Lebanon and abroad. But when the war against terrorism is finished, their fighters will come back to the country," La Stampa reported.

Hariri's resignation was widely viewed as being forced by Saudi Arabia, Hariri's backer, bringing its feud with the Iran-backed Hizballah to the tiny country.

Speculation had swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a Saudi citizen and grew up in the kingdom, after spending two weeks holed up in Riyad after he resigned.