Report: Bitar will not meet visiting French judges over port case

A french memo requesting a meeting with those concerned with the port blast file has been confirmed, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Thursday.

The memo asked for a January 24 appointment between two French judges and Attorney General Sabbouh Suleiman, who is tasked by the public prosecution to oversee the file of the port investigation, the daily said.

A German judicial delegation has already arrived to Lebanon, while two other delegations from France and Luxembourg are scheduled to arrive next Monday to probe the country's Central Bank governor and dozens of other individuals over suspected corruption. They will leave the country four days later.

Justice Palace sources told al-Akhbar that the lead investigator into the Beirut port blast, Judge Tarek Bitar, will not be able to meet with the French judges because of the legal challenges suspending his investigations, adding that the Lebanese law prohibits the disclosure of any confidential information related to the probe.

Meanwhile informed French sources have told al-Joumhouria that the judicial delegation's tasks are very serious, and will reach tangible results and decisions that will be put into effect.