BEIRUT: Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Saad Hariri praised over the weekend the decision by the Arab League to suspend Syria’s membership and described the government headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati as having taken a shameful stance by opposing the move.

“This is not the Lebanese will that voted, its Hezbollah government headed by Mikati,” Hariri said Saturday, referring to Lebanon’s vote against the Arab League decision on Syria, which also urged member states to withdraw their ambassadors to Damascus.

Speaking to his followers on Twitter, Hariri said as a Lebanese citizen he was “ashamed” of the position the Lebanese government had taken and urged the Syrian people not to regard Lebanon’s vote against the suspension as representing the majority of Lebanese.

“It is shameful. I hope the Syrian people know that this government doesn’t represent the Lebanese will,” Hariri said in response to a question during a live Q&A session on the popular micro-blogging site.

Earlier Saturday, in a move angrily greeted by Syria, the Arab League also called for economic and political sanctions against Damascus and talks with the Syrian opposition in just a few days.

Lebanon was among two other member states – Syria and Yemen – that voted against the move by the leading Arab body while Iraq abstained. The decision passed with 18 member states voting in favor.

Hariri, who has voiced strong criticism of President Bashar Assad on the popular site, said the League had finally acted according to the will of the people and described the move as “a victory for the Arab League proving Arabs can act on the world stage, starting with their own turf.”

“Finally the Arabs assumed their responsibilities regarding the plight of the Syrian people seeking freedom, democracy and dignity,” Hariri said in another Tweet.

When asked by a follower if he thought that Assad “will have … the opportunity to crush the revolution after being treated as such by Arab League,” Hariri simply responded: “I think he is finished.”

In a statement read by Qatari Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassem al-Thani Saturday, the League said the decision by the Arab body would take effect on Nov. 16.