Hezbollah leader wants investigator in Beirut blast replaced
ABC News
The leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group has escalated his attack on the judge leading the probe into last year’s port explosion, calling on authorities to replace him with a “truthful and transparent” investigator
BEIRUT -- The leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group Monday escalated his attack on the judge leading the probe into last year’s port explosion, calling on authorities to replace him with a “truthful and transparent” investigator.
Judge Tarek Bitar was appointed in February by a government body to lead the investigation. A court ruled to remove Bitar’s predecessor after he faced similar accusations of bias from former officials.
Bitar has been the recipient of heavy criticism from Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, who has repeatedly accused him of politicizing the probe.
On Monday, Nasrallah spent nearly a quarter of his one-hour speech meant to address the country’s multiple crises to criticize almost every decision Bitar has made. He accused him of politicizing the probe, targeting mainly officials who are allies of Hezbollah while failing to even question others.
