RIYADH : French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will stress the importance of stability in Lebanon as he began an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia.
This comes after Lebanese PM Saad Hariri resigned on Saturday while in Riyadh, saying he feared for his life.
This prompted suspicions that Mr Hariri was pressured by the Saudis to resign.
Mr Macron also said he would discuss the crisis in Yemen with Saudi leaders, after the Saudi-led coalition shut all aid routes to the war-torn nation.
The blockade was imposed on Monday after a missile was fired from Yemen at Riyadh. The missile was reportedly intercepted near the Saudi capital.
Saudi Arabia has blamed the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for the attack. The UN has warned that Yemen faces the world’s largest famine in decades “with millions of victims”áif the blockade is not lifted and aid deliveries are not resumed.
In a separate development, Saudi Arabia on Thursday told its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately.
Many Lebanese fear that their country is becoming embroiled in a wider conflict between Saudi Arabia, a major Sunni power, and Shia-led Iran, its biggest regional rival.
Speaking in the United Arab Emirates shortly before departing for Saudi Arabia, Mr Macron said he would hold face-to-face talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mr Macron said he would “emphasise the importance of Lebanese stability and integrity”.
“My wish is that all Lebanese political officials live freely in Lebanon… which means having a very demanding stance on those who could threaten any leader”, he added.
The French president added that he had been in informal contact with Mr Hariri.
