Authorities in Lebanon yesterday (Monday) suspended the investigation of the explosion in the port of Beirut for the second time.
Judge Tarek Bitar, who is leading the investigation, is having great difficulty summoning senior figures for questioning.
In February, his predecessor was removed from office due to similar circumstances, and accused government ministers of covering up the causes of the disaster.
The former head of the investigation team, Fadi Swan, summoned for questioning the prime minister at the time of the disaster, Hassan Diab, and three senior officials including former Finance Minister Hassan Khalil and former Labor ministers Yosef Panyanus and Razi Zeitar.
However, senior politicians denied responsibility, refused to appear for questioning as suspects and accused Swan of violating his powers.
The current head of the investigation team also summoned the four senior politicians for questioning.
In addition to them, former Interior Minister Nahad al-Mashnok and other former senior members of the army and defense establishment in the Land of Cedars were also summoned.
Earlier this month, Judge Bitter issued an arrest warrant for former Labor Minister Penianus and it in response complained to the Court of Appeals and demanded Bitter's removal on suspicion of "legal bias".
Such a decision came only after a similar complaint from former Interior Minister al-Mashnuk.
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Diab.
Staying in the US // Photo: IPI,
218 people were killed in an explosion that shook Beirut and wreaked havoc across the city.
Many lost their homes and thousands were injured.
All due to 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, which were stored in poor conditions at the port for six years.
Lebanese port and customs officials said their warnings about the danger posed by ammonia nitrate and their demands to evacuate it from the port fell on deaf ears.
Twenty suspects have been arrested so far as part of the investigation into the affair, most of them from the port and customs.
Despite this, the authorities in the country seem to be whitewashing the investigation.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned following the disaster, which led to more than a year without a functioning government.
A new government led by Najib Mikati was recently formed.
Hassan Diab, who has been summoned again for questioning, is currently in the United States.
He reportedly visits his children there and can be summoned to testify only after approval by the Lebanese parliament.