Beirut blast probe suspended again as judge issues arrest warrant

Lawyers for former ministers Ali Hasan Khalil and Ghazi Zeiter register new legal complaint against Judge Tarek Bitar.

Beirut, Lebanon – The probe into the Beirut port explosion has been suspended after two former ministers facing charges lodged a new legal complaint against the lead investigator.

The development came moments after Judge Tarek Bitar issued an arrest warrant for ex-finance minister Ali Hasan Khalil on Tuesday, after he did not show up for questioning.

Shortly afterwards, the judge was notified that lawyers for Khalil and former public works minister Ghazi Zeiter, who has also been charged, had made a new request to dismiss him from the case, a judicial source told Al Jazeera.