by reuters, Lebanese PM Saad Hariri has arrived back in Beirut for the first time since announcing his resignation in Saudi Arabia more than two weeks ago. TV pictures from Beirut international airport showed Mr Hariri being greeted by members of the security forces as he disembarked from his plane. Mr Hariri caused a political crisis when he quit during a visit to Riyadh. He denied speculation that Saudi Arabia had forced him to quit as part of a regional power struggle with Iran. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has refused to accept his resignation until he returns to present it in person. On Saturday, Mr Hariri flew to Paris where he met French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been trying to broker a way out of the stalemate. Mr Hariri stopped off briefly in Egypt and Cyprus on his way back to Beirut on Tuesday. While in France, Mr Hariri vowed to return to Lebanon to take part in independence celebrations on Wednesday, adding: “It is there that I will make known my position… after meeting President Aoun.” Mr Hariri abruptly announced he was resigning during a trip to Saudi Arabia on 4 November.

by AP – 12:05 a.m. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has visited the grave of his father, the late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. It was Hariri’s first stop since returning to Beirut late Tuesday, more than two weeks after shocking the country by announcing his resignation while in Saudi Arabia. After praying at the grave, Hariri retired to his home in central Beirut. He arrived in Lebanon from Cyprus on Tuesday night, after meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. Hariri is expected to attend Lebanon’s independence day parade in the capital Wednesday. He will then meet with President Michel Aoun, who has said he would not accept Hariri’s resignation until he received it in person. The prime minister’s shock resignation announcement on Nov. 4 set off speculation that he had been forced to step down by the Gulf kingdom and was being held there against his will. But he left Saudi Arabia for Paris on Saturday by invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, before traveling on to Beirut by way of Egypt and Cyprus.