Close Sources to Hariri: Hariri Welcomes Assad’s Support

Prime Minister Saad Hariri welcomed Syrian President Bashar Assad's support for him but admonished his Syrian counterpart Naji Otari for criticizing the March 14 coalition.

"The contents of President Assad's interview to Al Hayat newspaper are good," a source close to Hariri told As-Safir newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

He said Hariri considered Assad's remarks as turning a page on Otari's comments.

"Hariri, however, will not accept anyone to identify the principles for him or tell him who his allies should be," the source added.

Hariri also "would not accept anyone putting a gun to his head and tell him you have to do this and that," he stressed.

Assad has described Hariri as the right person for the period Lebanon is currently going through, stressing that Hariri is capable of overcoming the problems under the present circumstances.