Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri will meet ministers from major powers in Paris on Friday to discuss ways of stabilising his country a month after his shock resignation plunged it into political turmoil, diplomats said.
The Arab and European diplomats, cited by Reuters, said Mr Hariri would take part in the meeting of the International Lebanon Support Group, a body that includes the five members of the UN Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
Before Mr Hariri sets off, Lebanon's cabinet is set to meet for the first time since the political crisis erupted.
The cabinet's media office said the session would begin at noon on Tuesday at the presidential palace.
The meeting is expected to address Mr Hariri's attempted resignation.
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Read more:
Lebanon will only survive if Hizbollah disarms: Saudi Arabia
Lebanon PM Hariri says resignation on hold pending talks
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Mr Hariri resigned as prime minister in early November while he was in Saudi Arabia, prompting a political crisis in Lebanon and thrusting it back into a regional tussle between Riyadh and Iran.
However, his resignation was never accepted by the president, Michel Aoun.
Mr Hariri has now returned to Beirut and said he would be postponing his resignation, pending talks.
A French official, cited by AP, said that Friday's meeting will be co-chaired by the UN and French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
The official said the meeting was aimed at "reiterating the international community's commitment to supporting Lebanon's stability, integrity and security" and encouraging cooperation among rival Lebanese factions.
A guest list was not released, but the meeting comes when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled to be in Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to settle tensions in Lebanon after Mr Hariri tried to resign last month.
The Lebanon support group, launched in 2013, also includes the European Union, the Arab League and the UN.
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Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
