Clashes over Beirut blast investigation spark international concern


Aya Iskandarani
  • English
  • Arabic

The international community has expressed concern about attempts to derail the investigation into the deadly Beirut blast last year after a Hezbollah-led protest against the judge leading the inquiry turned into deadly fighting.

Unknown gunmen killed six people in Beirut on Thursday, all of them members or supporters of Hezbollah and its ally Amal, on a former frontline in Lebanon’s civil war. The violence in the capital threatened to throw the country into further chaos after two years of economic meltdown.

  • Lebanese medics help evacuate civilians during clashes in the area of Tayouneh. AFP
    Lebanese medics help evacuate civilians during clashes in the area of Tayouneh. AFP
  • Lebanese soldiers stand guard as supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal groups burn rubbish containers to block a road during a protest in Beirut. AP
    Lebanese soldiers stand guard as supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal groups burn rubbish containers to block a road during a protest in Beirut. AP
  • A woman crosses the road towards Lebanese medics during the clashes. AFP
    A woman crosses the road towards Lebanese medics during the clashes. AFP
  • A man runs to take cover as supporters of a Shiite group allied with Hezbollah help injured men. AP
    A man runs to take cover as supporters of a Shiite group allied with Hezbollah help injured men. AP
  • A man yells during the clashes. AFP
    A man yells during the clashes. AFP
  • A fighter from the Amal movement takes aim during the armed clashes in Tayouneh. AFP
    A fighter from the Amal movement takes aim during the armed clashes in Tayouneh. AFP
  • Lebanese soldiers attending the protest. AP
    Lebanese soldiers attending the protest. AP
  • Fighters from the Amal movement. AFP
    Fighters from the Amal movement. AFP
  • Lebanese security forces react to gunfire.
    Lebanese security forces react to gunfire.
  • Shattered glass and debris near the protest against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is investigating last year's Beirut port explosion. Reuters
    Shattered glass and debris near the protest against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is investigating last year's Beirut port explosion. Reuters
  • Gunfire killed at least two people and wounded several others at the rally organised by the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal movements to demand the dismissal of the Beirut blast lead investigator. AFP
    Gunfire killed at least two people and wounded several others at the rally organised by the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal movements to demand the dismissal of the Beirut blast lead investigator. AFP
  • Lebanese soldiers. AFP
    Lebanese soldiers. AFP
  • A Lebanese soldier takes position. Reuters
    A Lebanese soldier takes position. Reuters
  • Shattered glass on floor as soldiers are deployed. Reuters
    Shattered glass on floor as soldiers are deployed. Reuters
  • Lebanese soldiers at the scene. AFP
    Lebanese soldiers at the scene. AFP
  • Lebanese soldiers and medics gather in the area. AFP
    Lebanese soldiers and medics gather in the area. AFP
  • Demonstrators chant slogans against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is investigating last year's deadly Beirut port blast. AP
    Demonstrators chant slogans against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is investigating last year's deadly Beirut port blast. AP
  • The Lebanese Army stand guard near the Palais de Justice as supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal groups protest against Mr Bitar.
    The Lebanese Army stand guard near the Palais de Justice as supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal groups protest against Mr Bitar.
  • Protesters at the demonstration. Reuters
    Protesters at the demonstration. Reuters

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed “deep concern” for the fate of the investigation in a statement released on Thursday.

“France notes its deep concern over recent obstacles to the smooth unfolding of the investigation into the explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and the violence that has taken place in that regard,” he said.

Mr Le Drian said the Lebanese judiciary system must be able to work independently and impartially on this investigation “without obstacles and with the full support of the Lebanese authorities”.

For the past week, Hezbollah and its allies have been lobbying Lebanon’s newly formed government to dismiss Tarek Bitar, the judge leading the investigation, because he summoned for interrogation politicians who are close to the group.

Politicians summoned for questioning in the inquiry succeeded in removing Mr Bitar's predecessor, Fadi Sawan, in February. They are now asking the courts to dismiss Mr Bitar.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to the violence and stressed the need for an impartial investigation into the blast.

The UN special co-ordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said that “now is the time for all sides to support judicial independence in the interest of the people”.

More than 200 people were killed, more than 6,000 injured and large areas of the capital destroyed when hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used as fertiliser, detonated at the port after being stored there for more than six years.

Thursday’s clashes coincided with a visit to Beirut by US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, who called for calm and expressed support for a transparent investigation into the explosion.

Today’s unacceptable violence makes clear what the stakes are
Victoria Nuland,
US Undersecretary of State

“Today’s unacceptable violence makes clear what the stakes are,” Ms Nuland said.

“A clean, impartial, independent judiciary is the guarantor of all the rights and the values that we, as democracies, hold dear and share.”

The violence also prompted concern among Gulf states. Kuwait's embassy in Lebanon asked its citizens to leave the country, while Saudi Arabia called for calm and stability.

"The kingdom hopes that peace and security will prevail in Lebanon by ending the possession and use of arms outside of state control," Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah.

The Iran-backed group has access to an arsenal of weapons and has fought alongside the Syrian army in that country's civil war.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for an investigation into the clashes.

The Lebanese Army said it arrested nine people “from both sides”, including a Syrian.

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry

Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm

Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

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Director: Joyce Bernal

Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa

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How to help

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August 11

Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm

Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm

 

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

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Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

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Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Brief scores:

Toss: India, opted to field

Australia 158-4 (17 ov)

Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24

India 169-7 (17 ov)

Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22

Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method

FINAL SCORES

Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs

(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)

Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs

(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)

Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

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Updated: October 15, 2021, 8:29 AM