The Court of Cassation on Thursday threw out two lawsuits submitted by ex-premier Hassan Diab and ex-interior minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq accusing Bitar of summoning them illegally. It ruled there was no evidence suggesting Bitar had committed any errors.
The same court also overturned two similar lawsuits filed by politicians Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zoaiter. Also on Thursday, the Criminal Court of Cassation rejected a lawsuit filed by ex-public works minister Youssef Fenianos that had demanded Bitar's removal from the blast probe.
The court also said that it is the only authority eligible to look into recusal requests against Bitar, which prevents the accused ex-officials from filing motions with the Court of Appeals.
Turning to the suspension of Cabinet sessions, the patriarch lashed out at the "obstructors," stressing that they have no right to "prevent Cabinet from convening."
He wondered whether they are awaiting "further collapse, Lebanese lira downfall, hunger, poverty, emigration and deterioration of
...The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years. It produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. That's three statements. Only the first is subjective....’s ties with the Gulf countries."
"It is unacceptable for Cabinet to remain absent or the hostage of this or that party while it is the authority concerned with rescuing Lebanon," al-Rahi added.