Beirut explosion: FBI team set to arrive in Lebanon to take part in probe

Top Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun, have rejected calls for an independent probe, describing it as a waste of time that would be politicised

A team of FBI investigators is due to arrive in Lebanon this weekend to take part in the probe of Beirut's massive explosion, a senior US official said on Saturday after visiting the location of the blast.

David Hale, US undersecretary of state for political affairs, called for a thorough and transparent investigation.

He said the FBI team is taking part at the invitation of Lebanese authorities in order to find answers about what caused the August 4 explosion which killed nearly 180 people and wounded thousands.

The cause of the fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate