Lebanon’s prime minister on Thursday again urged the information minister to “prioritize” Lebanon’s “national interest” over an unprecedented diplomatic rift with Saudi Arabia, but stopped short of asking him to submit his resignation.
The rift has threatened to destabilize the new government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, sworn in less than two months ago, and escalate Lebanon's economic tailspin.
“I hereby renew my calls on the information minister (George Kordahi) to judge his conscience and take the right position,” Reuters quoted Mikati as saying.
Mikati said the information minister’s resignation would help resolve a crisis with the kingdom and its Gulf Arab allies, and preserve the “depths and good relations with the Arab and Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia.”