Nasrallah Urges Calm, Says Hariri's Resignation 'Imposed' by Saudi

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday that the previous day's shock resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri had been "imposed" by Saudi Arabia, urging calm in Lebanon at all levels.

"It is clear that the resignation was a Saudi decision that was imposed on Prime Minister Hariri. It was not his intention, not his wish and not his decision," Nasrallah said in a televised address.

Nasrallah accused Saudi Arabia of drafting Hariri's resignation letter and forcing him to read it on Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV. He even asked whether Hariri is being held against his will, referring to a purge of princes, ministers and businessmen in Saudi Arabia in an anti-corruption operation.

“The speech that Hariri recited was written by a Saudi figure and it was not Hariri's usual rhetoric,” Nasrallah noted.

“Why was not Hariri allowed to return to Lebanon to announce the resignation from here and not from Saudi Arabia?” he asked.

“We were not hoping for this resignation and things were moving forward in a reasonable manner... We made a lot of achievements in the government and the government possessed the ability to survive until the upcoming parliamentary elections,” Nasrallah added.

Turning to the wording of Hariri's resignation statement, Nasrallah said: “We will not comment on the content despite the statement's very harsh and dangerous language, because we believe that this text is a purely Saudi text.”

Nasrallah also urged calm in connection with the fears that were sparked by Hariri's surprising resignation.

“Everyone was surprised by the resignation, even al-Mustaqbal Movement's leadership, and this resignation has undoubtedly created an atmosphere of tension in Lebanon, especially with the threats and analyses that accompanied it,” Hizbullah's chief added.

Hizbullah is “keen on Lebanon's security and civil peace” and “we call for calm,” he said.

He noted that his meeting with the leaders of the Hizbullah-affiliated Resistance Brigades on Saturday had been scheduled prior to Hariri's resignation in order to mark 20 years since the foundation of the Brigades.

“It had nothing to do with any development,” Nasrallah reassured.

“We call for avoiding political escalation... seeing as escalation against us will not achieve anything but will rather reflect negatively on the country,” he said.

“We call for avoiding a return to the previous tensions or to any street protests,” Nasrallah urged.

Hizbullah's chief also downplayed the possibility of an external military attack on his group, dismissing rumors that were circulated following Hariri's resignation.

“Israel does not work in the service of Saudi Arabia and an Israeli aggression would hinge on Israeli calculations... All Israelis have unanimously agreed since the July War that Israel will only go to war with Lebanon if the cost is low and victory is guaranteed,” Nasrallah said.

“The resignation of our government has nothing to do with Israel's calculations,” he noted.

Hariri announced his surprise resignation Saturday in a broadcast from the Saudi capital.

He cited the "grip" of Hizbullah ally Iran on the country, and also said he feared for his life.

Hariri, a two-time premier whose father Rafik held the same position for years and was assassinated in 2005, accused both Iran and Hizbullah of seeking hegemony in the region.

The resignation sparked fears that Lebanon -- split into rivals camps led by Hariri and Hizbullah -- could once again descend into violence.

Riyadh considers Hizbullah, a close ally of Saudi regional rival Iran, to be a "terrorist" organization.

The two regional powers' tussle for influence has also played out in ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

It remains unclear who will succeed Hariri as prime minister in Lebanon.