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A judge has postponed the questioning of former ÌýPrime MinisterÌýHassan Diab for his role in last year's deadlyÌýexplosion at until 4 October, Lebanon'sÌýNational News Agency reported on Monday.

Diab was meant to be questioned on 20 September after a subpoena from investigative judge Tarek Bitar - but the ex-PMÌýwhen due to beÌýquestioned on the issue, stating he already gave his testimony on the case and "has nothing new to say", according to his advisor, Laila Hatoum.

DiabÌýhad alreadyÌýÌýin relation to the case last month,Ìýafter being summonedÌýby investigative judge Tarek BitarÌýon accusations of intentional killing and negligence.Ìý

OverÌý200 people died and 6,000 people were injured in the Beirut port explosion on 4 AugustÌý2020,Ìýwhere 2,750 tons ofÌýammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material, caught fire.Ìý

Diab resigned from his prime-ministerial duties following the explosion, but remained the caretaker head of governmentÌýuntil a new cabinet was successfullyÌýformed by the new Lebanese Prime MinisterÌýÌýearlier this month.

New Lebanese Justice MinisterÌýHenry Khoury toldÌý°®Âþµº's Arabic-language sister siteÌýthatÌýinvestigations into the port explosion, led byÌýJudge Bitar,Ìýshould be conducted without political interference.

"Dealing with the Beirut explosion case will beÌýjudicial and within the law, and whoever has a problem with Judge Bitar… there is a judicial inspection bodyÌýand procedures they can take,"ÌýÌýAl-Araby Al-Jadeed, adding thatÌýthe inquiry wasÌýled by Bitar.

No one has yet been convicted in relation to the blast.