Ten days after his surprise resignation plunged Lebanon into crisis and raised fears of regional turmoil, Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday called on everyone to "chill."
In his first personal tweet since travelling to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, where he announced he would step down in a pre-recorded message that led many to think he was being held against his will, Hariri said he planned to return to Lebanon in the next two days.
"People, I am fine. And God willing I will come back in a couple of days. Let's chill." Hariri wrote, adding that he was in good shape.
President Michel Aoun has refused to accept Hariri's November 4 resignation and urged him to come home.
Hezbollah and other rivals have suggested that Hariri's Saudi patrons forced him to resign to wreck the coalition government, which includes Hezbollah.
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Speaking from Paris, Lebanon's foreign minister said he hoped to resolve the "ambiguous" Hariri situation with Saudi Arabia.
"We hope Lebanon doesn't have to resort to international law," Bassil said.
Bassil spoke after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron, who said he "hopes Saad Hariri can go to Lebanon as he has announced."
France, Lebanon's onetime colonial ruler, is seeking to play a mediating role in the region and Macron paid a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia last week.
