LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Friday it heard arguments from attorneys about starting the trail for the 2005 death of Rafik Hariri without the accused.
The tribunal is investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The tribunal last summer released the names of those accused of having a role in the 2005 assassination. The suspects -- Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Ainessi and Assad Hassan Sabra -- are allegedly members of Hezbollah.
Beirut said recently it was unable to make arrests in relation to tribunal requests.
"The trial chamber will hold its first session today to hear arguments from the prosecution and the defense office about initiating in absentia proceedings," the tribunal said Friday in a statement.
The tribunal made the arrest warrants public in August. Ayyash and Badreddine, the warrants say, are accused of terrorism as co-perpetrators in the "intentional homicide" of Hariri. The other two suspects are accused of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism and acting as accomplices in the assassination.
Hezbollah officials have said they're the target of a smear campaign meant to discredit the organization.
