The outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, formally accused of being among those responsible for the explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4 in which 200 people died, today refused to be interrogated by the judge of the Court of Justice,
Fadi Sawan, holder of the investigation into the disaster. This was reported by Beirut media citing sources close to the prime minister’s secretariat. The sources say that the premier is in his private residence and that he has in recent days left the government building of the Great Seraglio. Diab’s office, the sources say, did not respond to Sawan’s request to question him today. Other Lebanese press sources, citing Diab’s own office, say the premier had “already told everything he knew when he was questioned” in recent months as a person of interest. Sources in the courthouse say that Judge Sawan has set a new appointment for next Friday to question the premier. Together with him the justice blamed “negligence” and “failures” of three former Lebanese ministers: one of finance, two of public works and transport. These should be interrogated by Sawan between Wednesday and Friday. (AMN)
by Basit Abbasi