Families of Beirut Blast Victims Want Officials Prosecuted

BEIRUT - Families of the victims of last year's massive blast at Beirut's port protested in the Lebanese capital Friday to pressure parliament to lift immunity of three legislators. The judge investigating the explosion had requested such a step.

One of the protests took place near the residence 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.