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Rafik Hariri murder trial to begin at The Hague Rafik Hariri murder trial to begin at The Hague
(35 minutes later)
The trial of four men accused of murdering former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri is set to begin at an unprecedented tribunal at The Hague.The trial of four men accused of murdering former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri is set to begin at an unprecedented tribunal at The Hague.
The four - alleged members of the Syria-backed militant Shia movement Hezbollah - have not been arrested and are being tried in absentia.The four - alleged members of the Syria-backed militant Shia movement Hezbollah - have not been arrested and are being tried in absentia.
Hariri was killed by a massive car bomb in Beirut in 2005.Hariri was killed by a massive car bomb in Beirut in 2005.
The killing polarised Lebanon and led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Hezbollah denies any involvement.The killing polarised Lebanon and led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Hezbollah denies any involvement.
It instead says the assassination was part of an Israeli and US conspiracy.It instead says the assassination was part of an Israeli and US conspiracy.
Shortly before the trial was to start, a bomb blast was reported near a government building in the town of Hermel - a Hezbollah stronghold - with a number of casualties feared. Shortly before the trial was to start, a bomb blast was reported near a government building in the town of Hermel - a Hezbollah stronghold.
At least two people were killed and several wounded in the attack in the town, which is in the Bekaa Valley, near the northern border with Syria.
'No contact''No contact'
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the UN-backed trial is a unique occasion - the first time that a terrorism charge has come before an international court and the first international trials in absentia since the post-World War Two Nuremberg prosecutions.The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the UN-backed trial is a unique occasion - the first time that a terrorism charge has come before an international court and the first international trials in absentia since the post-World War Two Nuremberg prosecutions.
The bomb attack that killed Hariri and 22 others and wounded 226 more on 14 February 2005 was a seismic event in Lebanese history, fuelling the sectarian divisions between Sunni and Shia Muslims in the country.The bomb attack that killed Hariri and 22 others and wounded 226 more on 14 February 2005 was a seismic event in Lebanese history, fuelling the sectarian divisions between Sunni and Shia Muslims in the country.
Hariri supporters blamed Syria for the attack. Supporters of Hariri, one of Lebanon's most influential Sunni leaders, blamed Syria for the attack.
There were massive demonstrations against Syrian troops who had been stationed in the country since 1976. They left a few months later.There were massive demonstrations against Syrian troops who had been stationed in the country since 1976. They left a few months later.
The UN set up the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in 2007 to investigate the bombing.The UN set up the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in 2007 to investigate the bombing.
It issued warrants in 2011 for Mustafa Badreddine, 52, Salim Ayyash, 50, Hussein Oneissi, 39, and Assad Sabra, 37.It issued warrants in 2011 for Mustafa Badreddine, 52, Salim Ayyash, 50, Hussein Oneissi, 39, and Assad Sabra, 37.
They face counts ranging from conspiracy to commit a terrorist act to murder and attempted murder.They face counts ranging from conspiracy to commit a terrorist act to murder and attempted murder.
Mr Badreddine is alleged to have been a senior Hezbollah military commander.Mr Badreddine is alleged to have been a senior Hezbollah military commander.
A lawyer for Mr Oneissi complained that there had been a "huge disproportion between the prosecution and the defence's means, time and financial resources".A lawyer for Mr Oneissi complained that there had been a "huge disproportion between the prosecution and the defence's means, time and financial resources".
Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse said: "We must defend the accused, who are not even here and without having had any contact with them."Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse said: "We must defend the accused, who are not even here and without having had any contact with them."
There is a fifth suspect - Hassan Habib Merhi, 48, - whose case may be joined to this trial at a later date.There is a fifth suspect - Hassan Habib Merhi, 48, - whose case may be joined to this trial at a later date.
The trial will hear 500 witness statements and could last months and possibly years.The trial will hear 500 witness statements and could last months and possibly years.
Our correspondent says the evidence against the four suspects appears to be largely based on analysis of mobile phone networks.Our correspondent says the evidence against the four suspects appears to be largely based on analysis of mobile phone networks.
But Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah says it was Israel that tracked Mr Hariri's movements by satellite, penetrating the phone system to falsify records and masterminding the assassination to discredit and undermine its enemies. But Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah says it was Israel that tracked Hariri's movements by satellite, penetrating the phone system to falsify records and masterminding the assassination to discredit and undermine its enemies.
Sunni-Shia tensions remain high in Lebanon - exacerbated by the Syrian civil war.Sunni-Shia tensions remain high in Lebanon - exacerbated by the Syrian civil war.
Hariri was one of Lebanon's most influential Sunni leaders while Shia-group Hezbollah has been fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Shia-group Hezbollah has been fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
Our correspondent says Lebanon is as divided now as it was in 2005 - as shown by another bomb blast less than three weeks ago that killed one of Mr Hariri's close associates, Muhammad Chatah, only a few hundred metres from where Mr Hariri had died. Our correspondent says Lebanon is as divided now as it was in 2005 - as shown by another bomb blast less than three weeks ago that killed one of Hariri's close associates, Muhammad Chatah, only a few hundred metres from where Hariri had died.