The judge leading the investigation into the Beirut port explosion in August 2020 suspended proceedings after senior officials indicted in the case challenged his impartiality and asked that he be dismissed.
Judge Tarek Bitar will pause the investigation pending a ruling by the court of cassation after former interior minister Nouhaq Mashnouq filed a request to replace him, state-run National News Agency reported.
Mr Mashnouq had asked the court on Friday to appoint another lead investigator, saying that Mr Bitar has overstepped his legal authority by seeking to prosecute senior officials. He said they should instead be prosecuted before a special body that includes parliamentarians and senior judges, as stipulated by the constitution.
Days earlier, former public works minister Youssef Fenianos petitioned the Supreme Court to remove Mr Bitar on doubts of his impartiality.
The judge had issued an arrest warrant for Mr Fenianos after he failed to appear for questioning and summoned former prime minister Hassan Diab. Mr Diab was indicted for criminal negligence in connection with the case by Mr Bitar’s predecessor, Fadi Sawan.
Mr Sawan was removed by the Supreme Court after former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter, both members of Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal parliamentary bloc, raised a petition.
All four ministers, along with Mr Diab, had snubbed multiple summonses, saying the lead investigator had no authority to question them. They were supposed to appear for questioning this week.
The suspension is the latest setback to an investigation that has been marred in controversy since the blast killed more than 214 people and destroyed large part of the Lebanese capital.
The families of victims and human rights campaigners have accused politicians of blocking the inquiry after Parliament refused to authorise Mr Bitar’s request to question the three lawmakers who were indicted in the case.
Activists will hold a sit in outside the Justice Palace in Beirut on Wednesday to protest what they said were attempts to obstruct justice.
The investigation into the explosion has yet to reveal the owner of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate that exploded at the port in August 2020. It remains unclear why the explosive fertiliser was left sitting at the port for more than six years with the knowledge of the country’s senior political and security officials.
The explosion led to the resignation of Mr Diab’s government and left Lebanon without a functioning Cabinet for almost a year, compounding the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Investigative media reports have linked the fertiliser shipment to businessmen who have ties to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, an ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
Hezbollah has criticised Mr Bitar on several occasions, accusing him of politicising the investigation and recently threatening to remove him.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying
Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
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Royal wedding inspired menu
Ginger, citrus and orange blossom iced tea
Avocado ranch dip with crudites
Cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese mini club sandwiches
Elderflower and lemon syllabub meringue
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
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Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
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Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
