BEIRUT (Ruptly) - A group of relatives of the Beirut port explosions’ victims gathered at a courthouse in the Lebanese capital to protest the removal of the judge in charge of investigating the disaster, on Thursday.

Lebanon’s highest court asked for judge Fadi Sawwan, the chief prosecutor investigation the catastrophic blast which devastated Beirut last August, to step down, after legal challenges by several ministers he sought to question on suspicion of negligence in the lead-up to the blast.

Protesters were seen holding banners with pictures of victims and burning tyres during the demonstration.

More than 200 people killed in the August 4 explosion, which obliterated the port and caused major damage to the rest of the city, leaving thousands homeless. Families of victims have been calling for justice, saying no senior officials should avoid scrutiny.