By Issam Abdallah

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hundreds of relatives of victims of last year’s Beirut port explosion, some chanting and some silent, took to the streets on Wednesday angry that an investigation into the disaster had been delayed for the second time this year.

Others carried tiny figures of victims on death row, while others held photos and stood silently with their loved ones.

Some powerful groups, such as Hezbollah the Shi’ite Shi’ite group and members of the ruling class have accused the investigators of bias. Some in the crowd chanted “Hezbollah are terrorists”.

Demonstrators protested in front of Beirut’s Palace of Justice. They were angry at the fact that, more than one year later, top officials still have not been charged with an attack that left more than 200 dead, injured many others, and destroyed large parts of the capital.

Joumana Khalifa, Joumana’s cousin and friend who were all killed by the blast said, “We are doing everything possible to get a conclusion in this probe.”

A large amount of ammonium-nitrate stored at the port in dangerous quantities from 2013 caused the blast. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosives.

On Monday, the probe was frozen based on a legal complaint filed by Nohad Machnouk (a Sunni Muslim lawmaker, former interior minister) who Tarek Bitar wants to question for negligence.

Machnouk alleges that Bitar is not impartial. Bitar may be dismissed if Bitar is accepted by the court.

Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Pakistan, stated that Bitar should continue to play his part. French foreign minister also expressed its regret for the suspension.

This was in response to a campaign of slander by the political class in Lebanon against Bitar. Bitar is the second probe judge after the predecessor had been forced to resign due to similar allegations by officials that he wanted to ask about negligence.

Protesters claimed politicians were acting in impunity.

Mohieldin Ladkani stated, “I lost my dad while he was sitting at home with us,” adding that other relatives were also hurt.

He stated that if Bitar is taken away, it means Bitar’s file has been removed. “And if they’re above the law, why can’t they put the family of victims first and make matters right?”