STL proceedings held up

The Trial Chamber decided Wednesday to await a response from Lebanese authorities on their efforts to arrest the accused before deciding whether to begin proceedings in absentia. The Chamber earlier requested the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's (STL) Prosecutor to file a progress report by December 8 on the Lebanese authorities' response. The judges of the Trial Chamber are responsible for deciding whether to try the accused in their absence, given that none of the four indicted men have yet been arrested. During a hearing held on November 11, the Prosecution argued that the Lebanese authorities should do more to locate and arrest the accused before the Tribunal could try them in absentia. On November 11 the Prosecution sent 10 requests for assistance to the Lebanese Prosecutor General asking him to take additional steps. The Tribunal's Defence Office then asked the Trial Chamber to consider withdrawing the arrest warrants and notifying the accused of the possibility of appearing at trial by video-conference. The Trial Chamber decided that the four accused should be formally notified of their rights to attend the trial. The Trial Chamber stated that when it has a response from the Lebanese authorities it will decide whether it should invite Lebanese officials to provide additional information.