Lebanese foreign minister resigns after comments linking Gulf countries to terrorist funding

Lebanon's foreign minister, Charbel Wehbe, asked the Lebanese president to be relieved of his duties on Wednesday after his comments in a television interview strained ties with traditional Gulf allies and donors. Wehbe, an interim government minister, suggested on Monday that Gulf states had supported the rise of Daesh, among other disparaging remarks.

Wehbe's remarks to the US-backed Alhurra news channel came amid already strained relations between Lebanon and its traditional ally Saudi Arabia. In remarks on Monday night, Wehbe said that "countries of friendship and brotherhood" brought Daesh militants to Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Asked if he meant Gulf countries were funding Daesh, he replied sharply, "Funded by me then?"

Wehbe made the comment during a verbal duel with a Saudi guest on the programme, who blamed Lebanon's President Michel Aoun for "handing over" his country to the Lebanese Shia movement, Hezbollah, which is backed by Riyadh's rival Tehran. Wehbe was furious, saying he would not be "insulted by a Bedouin". After meeting President Michel Aoun, Wehbe said he had submitted a resignation request "in light of recent events and the circumstances that accompanied the interview I gave to a television channel".

Wehbe said on Tuesday that his comments had been misrepresented and President Michel Aoun said the minister's statements were his "personal opinion" and praised "fraternal" ties with the Gulf. However, Wehbe apologised on Tuesday and said he did not intend to offend "brotherly Arab countries".

For their part, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain summoned Lebanon's ambassadors and issued formal complaints against the insulting remark. Nayef al-Hajraf, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), demanded a formal apology from Wehbe to the Gulf states for his unacceptable comments.

Faced with a crippling economic crisis, the Lebanese government also moved quickly to distance itself from comments that angered Riyadh, once a key financial backer of Beirut. Aoun said the comments were Wehbe's "personal opinion" and did not reflect the state's position, as he praised fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

Lebanon's outgoing prime minister, Hassan Diab, said he had asked Wehbe for an explanation, adding that his country wished to maintain the best relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Saad Hariri, the prime minister-designate, also criticised Wehbe, saying his comments were "not in accordance with diplomatic norms".

Riyadh handed over a memorandum of what it described as Wehbe's "offences" and the UAE foreign ministry called his comments "derogatory and racist". Kuwait called the comments "gravely abusive" and Bahrain said they were "offensive", both adding that the remarks contradicted the fraternal relations that bind Gulf Cooperation Council states to Lebanon.

Last month, Saudi Arabia announced it would suspend imports of fruit and vegetables from Lebanon, saying the shipments were being used to smuggle drugs and accusing Beirut of inaction.

The decision was a blow to Lebanon, which is facing its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. The comments have threatened Lebanese efforts amid its deep economic crisis to improve ties with Gulf states.