BEIRUT: Interior Minister Marwan Charbel denied Sunday reports that he had affirmed he would sign the civil marriage contract of Kholoud Succariyeh and Nidal Darwish.

“Al-Liwaa made it up,” the minister told The Daily Star, referring to remarks published in the Arabic-language newspaper Saturday.

He said he had not confirmed he would sign the contract and was still considering the matter. Al-Liwaa quoted Charbel as saying, “I will sign the [marriage] contract,” but reiterating that he is personally against doing so in principle.

The comments were reported by both the French and English-language press in Lebanon. However, when contacted by The Daily Star, the minister said: “I will announce my stance in a news conference this week.”