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President Macron makes surprise Saudi visit

Unscheduled visit to kingdom came amid growing crisis between it and Lebanon after Lebanese premier Saad Hariri resigned while in Riyadh.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

French president Emmanuel Macron has paid an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia amid an escalating crisis between the kingdom and Lebanon, reports the BBC.

His trip comes days after Lebanese PM Saad Hariri resigned while in Riyadh, saying he feared for his life.

Foes Saudi Arabia and Iran have accused each other of fuelling instability in Lebanon and the wider region.

Mr Macron and Saudi officials also discussed the crisis in Yemen, where Riyadh is leading a war against rebels.

France has historical ties with Lebanon, as its former colonial power before it gained independence during World War Two.

The French president was in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to open the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a spin-off of the famous Paris art museum.

Speaking there, he announced his unexpected two-hour trip to Riyadh to hold face-to-face talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and "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.

Saudi Arabia's blockade on Yemen was tightened on Monday after a missile was fired from Yemen at the Saudi capital, Riyadh - which the Saudi government blamed on Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and its chief backer Iran.

The missile was intercepted near the Saudi capital.

Read more of this report from the BBC.