Lebanon’s parliament on Friday held up an investigation into last year’s Beirut port blast, demanding more proof before lifting the immunity of ex-ministers wanted for questioning.
Earlier this month, the lead judge in the case, Tareq Bitar, said he had demanded that parliament lift the immunity of ex-finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil, former public works minister Ghazi Zoaiter and ex-interior minister Nohad al-Mashnouq.
Bitar said he was looking at possible charges of "probable intent to murder" and "negligence".
Hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate exploded on the dockside at Beirut port on Aug. 4, killing more than 200 people, injuring thousands and ravaging swathes of the capital.
Afterwards, it emerged that officials had known about the explosive substance being stored unsafely at the port for years.
Deputy speaker Elie Ferzli said Friday parliament's administration and justice committee met on Friday and decided to "request all evidence available in the investigation, as well as all documents that prove suspicions".
He said the committee would reconvene once it had received a reply, to decide whether or not to waive immunity.
Lawyer and activist Nizar Saghieh said the committee's request went against the separation of powers between the judiciary and the legislature, and "violated the confidentiality of the investigation".
"They're just trying to buy time," he charged.
The hashtag #lift_immunity_now began trending in Lebanon as protesters gathered outside the residence of Speaker Nabih Berri where the committee meeting took place.
"Immunity has to be lifted immediately," said Ibrahim Hoteit, a representative of families of those killed in the explosion.
The activist, who lost his brother in the disaster, said stalling the decision was "shameful, in view of the size of the crime".
“Shame on them. They are bringing riot police to face the families of martyrs,” he shouted.
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.
Protesters then headed to the interior ministry following media reports that the caretaker minister had not allowed Bitar to question General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim over the blast.
Ibrahim said he abides by the law but urged against any "political calculations".
He said someone is trying to tarnish his image.
The outgoing premier, Hassan Diab, has been charged in the probe and Bitar has called him in for questioning.
The judge has also said he is looking at interrogating former public works minister Yusef Fenianos.
