Pro-Hezbollah daily says Bitar has gone mad, US supports probe resumption

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a tweet Tuesday that "we support and urge Lebanese authorities to complete a swift and transparent investigation into the horrific explosion at the Port of Beirut".

The lead investigator into the blast, Judge Tarek Bitar, had decided Monday, to widespread surprise, to resume his probe into the disaster, despite the strong political pressure against him.

Reopening the case after a 13-month suspension, Bitar charged an initial eight suspects, including General Security head Abbas Ibrahim and State Security agency chief Tony Saliba, and released five others.

"Port investigation: Tarek Bitar has gone mad," ran the headline of the pro-Hezbollah daily al-Akhbar, which also accused him of acting "on the basis of American orders and with European judicial support".

Hussein Khalil, the political advisor of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, told reporters that Bitar's investigation was a "black stain" on Lebanese justice, and MP Ghazi Zoaiter called him 'mentally ill' after being summoned for interrogation.

The judge also summoned at least 14 politicians and judicial, security, and customs officials for questioning throughout February.