Hariri, family headed to France in coming days Reuters

Prime Minister Saad Hariri will arrive in France "in the coming days" with his family, a source inside the French presidential palace told Reuters Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his family to France, the French presidency said in a statement.

In a speech after the news broke, Macron said that he had invited Hariri for “a few days in Paris with his family,” as an act of friendship. He added that the invitation was not an offer of political exile for Hariri. "No, not at all," Macron told reporters in the French city of Bonn when asked if he was handing Hariri exile. "I hope that Lebanon will be stable, and that political choices should be in accordance with institutional rule."

Hariri spent three years between Riyadh and Paris while in exile due to security fears after his cabinet collapsed in 2011. He returned in 2014.

"We need a strong Lebanon with her territorial integrity respected. We need leaders who are free to make their own choices and speak freely."

Hariri resigned as Lebanon's prime minister 11 days ago in a video broadcast from Saudi Arabia. President Michel Aoun has refused to accept his premier's resignation and on Wednesday said Hariri was being detained by Saudi authorities.

"After speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri the president has invited Hariri and his family to France," the Elysee said.

An official said Macron spoke with Hariri and Prince Mohammed several times Tuesday and Wednesday.

A French diplomatic official said it is up to Hariri to announce his plans publicly but that he is believed to have accepted Macron's invitation, and that he would probably come directly from Riyadh.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named.

Macron's office said in a statement Wednesday that he made the decision after speaking to Hariri and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in separate phone calls.

France, Lebanon's onetime colonial ruler, has been trying to mediate in the crisis, and Macron paid a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia last week. Hariri's family has longtime connections to France.