Division and unity over investigation on Beirut’s port blast

Beirut, Oct 19 (Prensa Latina) The traditional division between parties and religious confessions in Lebanon on Tuesday left aside with a supposed unity to avoid depth in the investigation into last year's devastating explosion at Beirut's port.

October 19, 2021
11:44

Everyone agrees that there was negligence for years for the poor care at a warehouse of the port terminal of thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate, a substance with explosive characteristics.

However, most of the factions agree in delaying and hindering an investigation that could threaten their survival, analysts state.

The political elite repeatedly obstructed the work by Judge Tarek Bitar, who summoned former head of Government Hassan Diab, former Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk, former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former Public Works Minister Ghazi Zoaiter for interrogation.

Relatives of the Beirut blast victims see in Bitar the possibility of justice in a country in which those in power have enjoyed impunity whatever their crimes.

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