Lebanese PM Hariri revokes resignation after consensus deal

The announcement came at the end of the first Cabinet meeting to be held since Lebanon was thrown into a political crisis following Hariri’s stunning Nov. 4 move.

Hariri shocked the nation with his bizarre resignation in a televised broadcast from Saudi Arabia last month, citing Hizballah's meddling in in regional affairs as a main reason for stepping down.

But 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 detention of Hariri, who is a Saudi citizen and grew up in the kingdom, after spending two weeks holed up in Riyad after he resigned. 

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

Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, attended by Hariri, endorsed a statement that calls on rival Lebanese groups to distance themselves from regional conflicts and the internal affairs of Arab countries.

Hariri heads a coalition government that includes ministers from the Lebanese militant Hizballah group.

General elections are scheduled for May 2018, the first in nine years after parliament twice extended its term citing security reasons following the war in neighbouring Syria.