BEIRUT, Dec 3, Reuters -- Lebanon's information minister resigned on Friday saying he was putting the nation before his personal interests as he tried to end a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia sparked by his comments.
George Kordahi said he had quit before the French president visited Riyadh in hopes that Emmanuel Macron would help ease the crisis sparked by the Lebanese TV host-turned-politician's critical remarks about Saudi Arabia's role in the Yemen war.
Saudi Arabia recalled Lebanon's ambassador to Beirut and banned Lebanese imports after Kordahi said they were a symptom of the wider issue of Iran-backed Hezbollah's grip on Lebanon.
Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran have long battled for influence in the region, including in Lebanon, which is struggling with a deep economic crisis and desperately needs financial support from regional and international donors.
Saudi Arabia followed Saudi Arabia's lead in the fight against Lebanon, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Kordahi, a Christian whose Marada party is backed by Hezbollah, refused to resign in the weeks after Prime Minister Najib Mikati asked him to put national interest first.
According to Kordahi, the French want my resignation to take place ahead of Macron's visit, he said at a news conference that he believed Mikati had assurances that Macron would discuss Lebanon's ties with Riyadh.
He said his resignation aimed at preventing any punitive action against the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese living in Gulf Arab states.