BEIRUT - (Xinhua) The International Support Group for Lebanon on Wednesday expressed "concern about the lack of progress in the judicial process related to the Beirut port explosion" that occurred on August 4, 2020.

In a statement on the eve of the second anniversary of the tragic explosion, the group affirmed its solidarity with Lebanon and its people and with the families of the victims, the wounded, those who lost their homes or jobs, and those who suffered psychological trauma.

The group called on the Lebanese authorities to "do everything in their power to remove all obstacles that prevent
Conducting an impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the port explosion.

And she considered that "following up on the judicial track is a necessary requirement to restore the credibility of the Lebanese state institutions, ensure respect for the rule of law, establish principles of accountability, and end impunity."

The members of the group expected that "the Lebanese parliament will adopt legislation that enhances the independence of the judiciary, in line with international standards."

The group indicated that it is following with great concern the severe effects of the economic crisis on all segments of Lebanese society, renewing the call of the Lebanese authorities to "form a government capable of implementing fundamental reforms and completing the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, by implementing Lebanon's obligations and enacting the necessary legislation."

And Lebanese President Michel Aoun assigned, on June 23, the caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, to form the government, based on parliamentary consultations in which the latter won 54 votes, compared to 25 votes in favor of the former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations, Nawaf Salam, while 46 deputies abstained from naming anyone. .

Disagreements between the political forces, about two and a half months after the mandate of the new parliament regarding the sharing of ministerial quotas, impede the process of forming a government at a time when Lebanon has witnessed, since 2019, an economic collapse that the World Bank ranked among the worst in the world since the middle of the last century.

The International Support Group for Lebanon also stressed the importance of holding the presidential elections on time.

According to the constitution, the presidential elections are supposed to be held at a date to be determined by the Speaker of Parliament, in the two-month period preceding the end of President Aoun’s term on October 31.

This comes as the investigation into the Beirut port explosion faces several stumbling blocks and obstacles that make it suspended without final indictments, in light of the differences between the political forces regarding the valid reference for interrogating former ministers, who are suspected of negligence.

The judiciary had brought charges of negligence against Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the time of the explosion, former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, former Ministers of Public Works Youssef Fenianos and Ghazi Zuaiter, and former Minister of Interior Nihad Al-Machnouk.

The accused officials denied any wrongdoing, refused to be interrogated as suspects, and accused the judge of exceeding his powers, considering that holding them accountable is the prerogative of the Supreme Council for the Trial of Presidents and Ministers.

An explosion occurred in the port of Beirut in a hangar that contained, according to the Lebanese authorities, about 2,750 tons of "ammonium nitrate", which had been confiscated from a ship and stored since 2014.

The explosion killed more than 200 people and injured about 6,500 others, in addition to massive material damage in residential and commercial neighborhoods.