In Lebanon, a demonstration against the judge investigating the explosion at the port of Beirut escalates

Bursts of automatic weapons, rocket explosions, burned vehicles… A demonstration degenerated, Thursday, October 14, in Beirut when shots were targeted, around 11 am (10 am in Paris), at groups of demonstrators who were trying to rally a rally organized, in front of the courthouse, by the Shiite movements Hezbollah (“Party of God”) and Amal (“Hope”) against the examining magistrate Tarek Bitar, who is leading the investigation into the explosion that occurred in August 2020 in the port of the Lebanese capital.

According to an initial report, the exchanges of fire left at least six dead and thirty wounded. In a statement, the Lebanese army clarified that the shootings had taken place in the area of Tayouneh-Badaro. Hezbollah and the Amal Party claimed the protesters were targeted by gunmen posted on rooftops. The day before, the head of the Lebanese (Christian) Forces, Samir Geagea, called for “A total and peaceful blockade” in the street in order to face this demonstration.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati appealed for calm and said he was following events closely with the army chief of staff. In the early afternoon (Beirut time), the clashes continued and RPG rocket fire was heard. Lebanese army called on civilians to evacuate the streets and warned that she would shoot at any armed element she came across in the street.

France called for “Appeasement” and reiterated the need for Lebanese justice to “Be able to work independently and impartially”. “The Lebanese are waiting for all the light to be shed on the explosion in the port. They have a right to the truth ”, added the spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, Anne-Claire Legendre.

Judge Bitar under pressure

The incident comes shortly after Lebanon’s Court of Cassation dismissed complaints by two former ministers against the judge investigating the explosion at the port of Beirut, allowing him to resume his investigations. Mr. Bitar was forced on Tuesday to suspend his investigation pending the verdict of this court, causing the most serious crisis in the Lebanese government since its formation last month.

The explosion on August 4, 2020 and caused by the storage without precaution of huge quantities of ammonium nitrate left at least 214 dead, more than 6,500 injured and devastated several districts of the capital. Blamed for criminal negligence, the authorities refuse any international investigation and are accused by the families of the victims and associations of torpedoing the local investigation.

A Lebanese army soldier in the streets of Beirut, Thursday, October 14.  The shots rang out as the procession passed in the district of Tayouneh, located between the Shiite suburb to the south of the city and the courthouse where the rally was to end.

Pro-Iranian Hezbollah and its allies demand that the examining magistrate be dismissed, accusing him of politicizing the investigation, while politicians refuse to be questioned by Mr. Bitar. On Tuesday, Bitar issued an arrest warrant against MP and former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil, a member of the Shiite Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah.

But he was immediately forced to suspend his investigation after new complaints filed by Mr. Khalil and another deputy and ex-minister of Amal, Ghazi Zaayter, whom he wished to question.

The case nearly imploded a stormy meeting of the government of Najib Mikati, formed in September after a political deadlock of almost a year, with ministers reporting to Hezbollah and Amal asking for the judge to be replaced, to which opposed other members of the cabinet.

Since taking charge of the investigation, Bitar has summoned ex-prime minister Hassan Diab and four ex-ministers for indictment. They never appeared before the judge, who also issued a first arrest warrant that remained unfulfilled against a former transport minister.

Judge Bitar resumed his work last week after an initial suspension of the investigation. Some fear that he will meet the same fate as his predecessor, Fadi Sawan, dismissed in February after the indictment of senior officials.

Read also Article reserved for our subscribers Explosion in Beirut: Judge Bitar under pressure

Le Monde with AP, AFP and Reuters


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