Lebanese foreign affairs minister Charbel Wehbe resigns after Daesh comments

Agencies | Beirut

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Lebanon’s foreign minister asked the president to be relieved of his duties on Wednesday, the presidency said, after his comments in a television interview strained ties with traditional Gulf Arab allies and donors.

Charbel Wehbe, who is a minister in the caretaker government, suggested on Monday that Gulf states had supported the rise of Daesh, among other disparaging comments.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain summoned Lebanon’s ambassadors and issued formal complaints.
The comments have threatened Lebanese efforts amid its deep economic crisis to improve ties with Gulf states.

After meeting President Michel Aoun, Wehbe said he had submitted a request to step down “in light of the recent developments and the circumstances that accompanied the interview I gave to a television station.”