Hariri to Appear in TV Interview from Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Saad Hariri will appear in a TV interview in the coming hours, talk show hostess Paula Yacoubian confirmed on Sunday.

“I was on my way to Abu Dhabi on a private work trip not related to journalism and when I arrived I learned that PM Hariri had tried to contact me. I called him back and he told me, ‘You’ve been seeking an interview for some time now. You can come now,’” Yacoubian of Hariri’s Future TV told An Nahar newspaper.

“I said sure and this is how it happened,” she added.

The talk show hostess, who was readying to travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, added: “I will carry out an exclusive interview with the premier on Future TV and it seems that all television networks will broadcast it. I cannot confirm whether it will be aired tonight or not, but I will head to Riyadh today with the show’s crew to conduct it.”

Al-Jadeed television meanwhile reported that “Saudi authorities have not allowed Future TV’s crew to accompany Yacoubian.”

Yacoubian later clarified that she would not be accompanied by a Lebanese crew due to technical and logistic reasons, denying interference by Saudi authorities.

MTV meanwhile reported that the interview will be aired around 8:30 pm Sunday.

An Nahar said Hariri is expected to announce stances on Hizbullah and to announce that he is staying in Saudi Arabia over security concerns.

Hariri had announced his resignation on November 4 in a surprising and pre-recorded statement from Saudi Arabia.

In a haltingly delivered address, Hariri accused Iran of meddling in Arab affairs and Iran-backed Hizbullah of holding Lebanon hostage. He also said he feared for his life.

In his absence, Lebanon has been awash with speculation the prime minister may be held against his will in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials have denied Hariri is under house arrest.

President Michel Aoun has urged Saudi Arabia to explain why Hariri had not returned to Beirut since his surprise resignation, while Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has openly accused the kingdom of "detaining" the premier.

Hizbullah's critics have meanwhile called for addressing the political content of Hariri's resignation announcement and not the unusual manner in which the resignation was declared.