THE parents of 13 children killed in the Villaggio Mall fire in Qatar are demanding the Gulf nation move ahead with a trial after repeated delays. An open letter issued on Friday by the families complains bitterly about postponements, the Associated Press reports. They have objected to some defendants refusing to attend preliminary hearings. The May 28 blaze killed 19 people in total, including four child care workers and two firefighters, at the Gympanzee childcare centre owned by the daughter of Qatar's culture minister. The Doha News reports Iman Al-Kuwari failed to show up for a court hearing on October 24. She was absent from an original court date in September and another on October 12. Qatar investigators have blamed faulty wiring for starting the fire and cited shortcomings in safety planning by staff at the country's biggest mall. The children killed were all members of Qatar's large expatriate community, including New Zealand triplets Lillie, Jackson and Willsher Weekes aged two, and three Spanish siblings. The Doha News reports the hearing will proceed on November 13 with or without Ms Al-Kuwari. Herald Sun

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