BEIRUT: Investigative Military Judge Fadi Sawwan issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for Mahmoud Hayek, who has been accused of attempting to assassinate MP Butros Harb.

Earlier this month, Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr charged Hayek, a member of Hezbollah’s security apparatus, with the attempt on Harb’s life. Saqr also charged Hayek, who remains at large, with carrying out acts of terror after planting a bomb in the elevator of the building that houses Harb’s office in Badaro, Beirut.

Hezbollah has refused to hand over Hayek after his involvement in the case was discovered, security sources have stated.

Harb has accused Hezbollah of putting pressure on both political and judicial officials to prevent Hayek’s handover to judicial authorities.

Commenting on the arrest warrant, Harb hailed Sawwan’s speedy implementation of the legal measures in this case and his courage in practicing his judicial powers.

“This decision is a clear rejection of the interference of politics and personal interests in the work of the judiciary,” Harb said in a statement released by his office.

“Sawwan’s decision is a correct implementation of the legal criminal procedures. I have complained in the past of attempts to ignore these procedures to serve certain political and personal aims,” he added.