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Lebanon has accusesd Saudi Arabia of holding its PM Saad al-Hariri as hostage. Hariri travelled to Riyadh on Novemeber 3 before abruptly resigning in a televised statement a day later. He has stayed in Riyadh and top Lebanese officials and senior politicians close to Hariri have said that he was forced to quit. France said on Wednesday that Hariri will visit the country with his family in coming days. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said that he will not accept Hariri's resignation until he returns to Lebanon to formally submit it and explain the reasons behind the sudden decision. Let's take a look at the series of developments in the mystery behind Hariri's resignation:
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Speaking in the German city of Bonn after a climate conference, Macron said his invitation was not an offer of exile for Hariri, who announced his abrupt resignation as premier 11 days ago from the Saudi capital Riyadh. (AP Photo)
Macron's invitation came after he spoke to both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Hariri over telephone. (AP Photo) 
France has close relations with Lebanon, which was under French control between the world wars, and with Hariri, who has a home in France and spent several years in the country. His father Rafik was a close friend of former French President Jacques Chirac. (AP Photo) -
Saudi Arabia has long been considered Hariri's main external supporter. Aoun is a political ally of Lebanon's Hezbollah, a powerful Shi'ite Muslim group with close ties to Iran. (AP Photo)
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Lebanon's coalition government was formed last year through a political deal that made Aoun president, Hariri prime minister, and included members of Hezbollah in the cabinet. (AP Photo)
Saad al-Hariri has denied being kept in custody by Saudi Arabia. Aoun said that Saudi officials were also holding Hariri's family. (AP photo) -
Hariri's resignation came amid mounting tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said that he will formally resign in the coming days. (AP Photo)
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Riyadh also denied detaining Saad al-Hariri or forcing him to resign from Lebanon's prime minister post. Lebanon has insisted the resignation was forced by Hariri's Saudi patrons and that he is being kept in the kingdom against his will. (AP Photo)
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On Twitter, Hariri wrote that he was "perfectly fine" and would return, "God willing, to dear Lebanon as I promised". His wife and children have been living in Saudi Arabia for years. (Reuters)
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Hariri's older brother, Bahaa Hariri says, he supports Saad's decision to step down over the growing demands and actions of Hezbollah. However, it is beleived that the relationship between the two Hariri brothers is reportedly tense. (Reuters Photo)
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Hariri warned on Sunday in his first interview since resigning of possible Gulf Arab sanctions against Lebanon and of the risk to the livelihoods of the 300,000-400,000 Lebanese in the Gulf. (Reuters Photo)
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Hariri holds both Saudi and Lebanese nationality and his family fortune is based on the construction company – Saudi Oger – built by his father Rafik al-Hariri, who served twice as Lebanese prime minister. (Reuters Photo)
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In April 2005, two months after their father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was assassinated in a Beirut bombing, the family announced that Saad would assume his father's political mantle, skipping over his brother, Bahaa, who is several years his senior. (Reuters Photo)
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It is said that Hariri family has always stood for the principles that make Lebanon unique in the world. (Reuters Photo)
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