Lebanese PM threatens to resign over Hezbollah influence

BEIRUT – Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Monday that he will resign if the Hezbollah terrorist group refuses to accept a new power-sharing arrangement for Lebanon, speaking as consultations got underway in Beirut between political leaders over the government's future.

Hariri made his threat in an interview with the French broadcaster CNews.

The Iran-sponsored Hezbollah, which has representatives in Lebanon's parliament, is the focus of talks between the country's political parties on reaching an accord over representation and on limiting foreign interference in domestic politics. Hezbollah is an opponent of Hariri's Saudi Arabia-backed Future Movement, though it's also a member of Hariri's coalition government.

Hariri said Hezbollah appeared receptive to dialogue, but said he would resign if the group and Iran did not agree to rebalance Lebanon's political configuration. He did not elaborate on the new arrangement he was proposing.