Lebanon judge indicts PM, 3 ex-ministers over port blast: judicial source

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BEIRUT, Dec 10, 2020 (AFP) – The lead investigator of the catastrophic August 4 blast at the Lebanese capital’s port indicted outgoing premier Hassan Diab and three ex-ministers on charges of negligence, a judicial source said Thursday.

The decision by judge Fadi Sawan to indict Diab and the other ministers came after a blast probe “confirmed that they (the suspects) have received several written notices warning them against postponing the disposal of ammonium nitrate fertiliser,” which authorities say was behind the August 4 blast, the source said.

“They did not take the necessary measures to avoid the devastating explosion and its enormous damages,” the source said.