Lebanese Prosecutor Demands Lifting March 14 MP’s Immunity

Lebanon’s General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi demanded on Monday to strip MP Butros Harb of his parliamentary immunity over remarks he made on the judiciary and President Michel Sleiman after Mahmoud Hayek was charged with the attempt to assassinate him, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Madi handed over to Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi a request to refer a demand to the parliament to lift immunity off Harb in order for him to be prosecuted over insulting the president and accusing the judiciary of plotting a conspiracy against him.

Harb will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday in order to respond to Madi’s request.

State commissioner to the military court Judge Saqr Saqr charged last week Hayek with the assassination attempt on Harb in July 2012 and with carrying out acts of terror.

The March 14 opposition lawmaker escaped the assassination bid after residents of a building in which his office is located in the Beirut district of Badaro discovered individuals trying to booby-trap the elevator, media outlets claimed.