Families of the victims of last year's massive blast at Beirut's port protested in the Lebanese capital on Friday to pressure parliament to lift immunity of three legislators. The judge investigating the explosion had requested such a step.slot
One of the protests took place near the residency of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, where the legislature's justice committee was meeting over the immunity request. Lebanese troops pushed the protesters back from the tightly secured building.
Many Lebanese blame the country's ruling elites for negligence that led to the port explosion.
“You blew up Beirut and put people in coffins,” read a banner carried by one of the protesters.
According to the deputy parliament speaker, Elie Ferzli, the committee decided to first ask the judge to review the evidence against the three before deciding on the immunity.
Last week, Judge Tarek Bitar announced he intends to pursue senior politicians and former and current security chiefs in the case, and requested permission for their prosecution.