The announcement of Hariri's Damascus visit apparently came to silence recent media reports that said relations between Hariri and Syrian have deteriorated following remarks made by the Lebanese premier which reportedly upset Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hariri said Syria had rejected diplomatic ties with Lebanon and compared Lebanese-Syrian relations with those that prevailed during Saddam Hussein's era between Iraq and Kuwait.

"Syrian behavior was similar to the one that existed between Iraq and Kuwait when former President Saddam Hussein refused to recognize Kuwait," Hariri said in a recent interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Saudi Arabia was said to have stepped in to mend bridges between Hariri and Assad.

Hariri's office had denied a press report that said Hariri was not forced to respond to Syrian demands before Damascus fulfill its promises.

A statement issued by Hariri's office said "many parties were harmed by the positive relations" between Hariri and Assad.