BEIRUT — Former Lebanese prime minister
Saad Hariri announced Monday he would not run in upcoming parliamentary elections and was
withdrawing from political life.
اضافة اعلان
The 51-year-old three-time premier, who was propelled into
politics by his father Rafic's assassination in 2005, announced his decision during
a press conference in the capital Beirut.
The Sunni Muslim leader said he was "suspending his
work in political life" and urged fellow members of his Future party to
leave the political arena.
A tearful Hariri, who was first elected to
parliament in 2005,
also announced he would not run in the legislative polls due in May, citing
"Iranian influence and international upheaval".
Iran backs Hezbollah, a Shiite movement that wields
considerable influence in Lebanese politics.
Lebanon is grappling with an economic crisis that has seen
the currency lose 90 percent of its value on the black market.
Food prices have quadrupled and around 80 percent of the
population now live below the poverty line, according to the
UN.
Potential donors have repeatedly said any restoration of aid
is dependent on the establishment of a viable government committed to rooting
out corruption.
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