BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati rejected Friday claims that a digital war had broken out with his predecessor, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri.

“I reject claims that a digital war broke out between me and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who a week ago began hosting live daily question and answer sessions on social media site Twitter,” Mikati said Friday on his Facebook page.

“I would not engage in online debates, everyone is free to express opinions through any means. Twitter/ Facebook are a means for me to communicate with fans of online and social media,” he added.

Activity on the popular micro-blogging site spiked earlier this month with the appearance of nightly Q&A live Twitter sessions by Hariri, whose public appearances and interviews had tapered after the collapse of his national unity Cabinet in January and his departure from the country in March due to security concerns.

Fielding questions from both followers and supporters, Hariri, under the Twitter name of @Hariri Saad, has posted a stream of replies to questions on his personal life as well as his views on both domestic and regional subjects.

Although welcomed by many of his followers, some of Hariri’s Tweets have provoked controversy, including the Future Movement leader’s blunt comments stating he would never vote for Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Berri, who has headed the Parliament for close to 20 years, promptly replied, urging Hariri, who said he was in the Saudi capital Riyadh, to stay out of politics.

Hariri’s criticisms of Mikati have been no less controversial, expressing his belief that when push comes to shove, the Lebanese prime minister will cave in under pressure by Hezbollah not to fund the U.N.-backed court probing the assassination of his father, five-time Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.