Arab League holds talks in Lebanon over Gulf row

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun meets with Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon November 8, 2021. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A senior Arab League official held talks in Lebanon on Monday in a bid to ease a rift with Saudi Arabia over criticism of its role in the Yemen war, saying the crisis could have been defused if the minister who made the comments had resigned.

Arab League Assistant Secretary General Hossam Zaki met Lebanon's president, prime minister and parliament speaker during his visit. President Michel Aoun said he welcomed any Arab League initiative to restore ties with Saudi Arabia.