Lebanon wants closer ties with Saudi Arabia

- Lebanon is keen to improve relations with Saudi Arabia. That has let the newly elected President Michel Aoun know Monday. He is affiliated with the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah, supported by Iran. That country is the region's rival Sunni Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Prince Khaled al-Faisal, who has invited Aoun paid an official visit to Beirut for a return visit. This promised to come once the new Lebanese government was formed. The designated Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Monday that there still are some stumbling blocks. He could not estimate when they are cleared.