by en.annahar.com — BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri lashed out at the former head of Lebanon’s General Security agency, MP Jamil Al-Sayyed, after the latter called for the nomination of a new Prime Minister. Al-Sayyed, a close ally of Hezbollah, who was detained in 2005 for his alleged role in the assassination of Hariri’s late father former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, accused the PM-designate of delaying the Cabinet formation under pressure from Saudi Arabia. “(Lebanese Forces Samir) Geagea previously failed in detaining Hariri in Saudi Arabia to force his Cabinet’s collapse, today Geagea and (Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid) Jumblatt, with the support of Saudi Arabia has succeeded in detaining Hariri in Lebanon to obstruct the formation of the Cabinet,” Al-Sayyed tweeted in reference to Hariri’s abrupt resignation from Saudi Arabia last November, reportedly orchestrated by the Gulf Kingdom. Hariri was also alleged to have been detained during his ordeal in the Kingdom.

Both Geagea and Joumblatt have recently visited Saudi Arabia, and met with high ranking officials. Negotiations over the makeup of the new Cabinet are ongoing, with the Lebanese Forces and Progressive Socialist Party demanding a sizeable chunk of ministerial posts, a claim continuously rebuked by Aoun and his son-in-law and current Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil. Hariri, who was designated PM after the recent parliamentary election, had rescinded his resignation upon his return to Beirut a few weeks later after the intervention of French President Emmanuel Macron. “Till when will the second detention last,” All Sayyed asked, adding that “we represent the majority, maybe a petition from 65 MPs to the President could end Hariri’s designation, in light of the alternatives (candidates).” Al-Sayyed’s remarks prompted Hariri to hit back, telling Al-Sayyed that his statement has no impact whatsoever. Hariri was designated by a sweeping majority of lawmakers including allies of Hezbollah, whose parliamentary bloc abstained from nominating a candidate.