Bitar Prosecutes Diab and ex-Ministers, Officers over Port Blast

Bitar Prosecutes Diab and ex-Ministers, Officers over Port Blast

The Lebanese judge leading the investigation into last year's massive blast at Beirut's port announced on Friday he would pursue top politicians and former and current security officials in the case, state media reported Friday.

Judge Tarek al-Bitar confirmed charges filed by his predecessor against outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab and has summoned him for questioning, National News Agency reported. He did not set a date.

Bitar also asked the government and the interior ministry for permission to question two of Lebanon's most prominent generals, the head of General Security Directorate Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, and the head of State Security Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba.

He also asked parliament to lift the immunity on two legislators who were charged by his predecessor and a former interior minister -- Ghazi Zoaiter, Ali Hassan Khalil and Nouhad al-Mashnouq. Bitar also filed charges against former army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji and former head of military intelligence Brig. Gen. Kameel Daher, as well as two other retired intelligence generals.

He also asked the public prosecution to take legal measures against several judges.

Nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers that had been improperly stored in the port for years, exploded on Aug. 4,