Beirut's Investigative Judge George Rizk on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against the resigned head of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers, Bechara Asmar, over the contempt and defamation charges pressed against him.

Asmar had appeared before the magistrate to give his testimony as part of the lawsuits filed against him in the wake of the insulting and obnoxious comments he made last week regarding late Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

Before beginning a press conference last week, Asmar was heard mocking the venerable cardinal, one day after he was laid to rest, being unaware that his microphone was already turned on.

Judge Rizk has also set hearings for the five individuals who were seen sitting alongside Asmar and laughing at his obscene comments in the leaked video.