Lebanon: investigation into the explosion of the port of Beirut suspended
A view of the Port of Beirut after the explosion of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that killed 200 people and left more than 250,000 people homeless.
© REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The investigation into the explosion in the port of Beirut, which on August 4 left 200 dead and 6,500 injured, has been temporarily suspended.
Two former ministers indicted demanded the disqualification of the magistrate in charge of the investigation, Fadi Sawan.
Publicity
Read more
From our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifé
Former Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil and former Minister of Public Works, Ghazi Zeaïter, both deputies and lawyers, have called for the replacement of prosecutor Fadi Sawan for legitimate suspicion of incompetence.
They accuse the magistrate of having violated the Constitution, believing that the judgment of ministers and deputies must first obtain the approval of Parliament.
The Court of Cassation is due to rule within ten days on the request of the two defendants, who are part of the Shiite Amal Movement, led by the president of the chamber Nabih Berry, one of the most powerful political figures in the country.
The accused refuse to appear
Fadi Sawan's decision to indict the resigning prime minister, Hassan Diab, and three former ministers sparked an outcry from part of the political class.
►Also read: Explosion in Beirut: Hassan Diab refuses to appear before the prosecutor who indicted him
The four defendants refused to appear before the prosecutor earlier this week, but that had not discouraged him and he had set other dates for the interrogations.
Now all this is suspended pending the decision of the Court of Cassation.
The latter can reject the accused's request, or request the replacement of Fadi Sawan.
In this case, the investigation, which is already dragging on, could be seriously delayed.
This is not to the taste of a large part of public opinion, of the families of the victims and of the international community, which are starting to grow impatient.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Lebanon
On the same subject
Explosion in Beirut: Hassan Diab refuses to appear before the prosecutor who indicted him
Lebanon: indictment of head of government Hassan Diab strongly criticized
Explosion in Beirut: resigning Prime Minister Hassan Diab indicted for negligence