BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said he is charting a new political path from within his party after a 2016 deal with President Michel Aoun that brought him to power became "history".
"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere; I'm staying in my country, in my house among my family and in political work," Hariri said on Friday, in his first public speech since resigning on October 29 amid widespread protests against a ruling elite blamed for corruption and steering the country into an acute financial crisis.
Addressing a crowd of thousands of supporters outside his residence in the capital, Beirut Lebanon's leading Sunni politician said he had received criticism from within his party over the past months and acknowledged "shortcomings" - but said "the decision now is to enact change".
"The Future Movement will remain," he said, referring to his party.
His comments came during a public event to mark the 15th anniversary of the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Rafik Hariri was killed along with 21 others when a massive bomb exploded as his convoy passed through the centre of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, on February 14, 2005.
Prosecutors at The Hague-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating Hariri's assassination have said that the Syrian government was at the heart of the plot, which was carried out by members of the pro-Iran Hezbollah group. Damascus and Hezbollah have denied involvement. A ruling in the case is expected this year. (Aljazeera)