Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Wednesday stated his previous statements earlier this week were "misunderstood." According to to him, he won't abandon Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri out of loyalty.

"I did not and I will never abandon the prime minister designate," Jumblat noted after his talks with Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman. "My message today from Baabda to Sheikh Saad is that we continue on the same road to adhere to the established foundations regarding government formation, " he said, according to Naharnet.

On Sunday, Jumblat announced that his alliance with March 14 forces was driven by "necessity" and must not continue in the same form.

Last night, Saudi Information and Culture Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja met with Jumblat and conveyed him letter from the Saudi king. According to press reports, king Abdullah considers Jumblat's stances as expressed on Sunday as weakening Hariri in his efforts to form the new cabinet. The Saudis also warned that the Druze leader's shift would jeopardize Riyadh's negotiations with Syria aimed at consolidating Lebanese sovereignty and ending interfering in Lebanon on the other.

© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)