Iloubnan - STL: Trial Chamber calls for submissions on in absentia proceedings, October 20, 2011

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon's Trial Chamber has issued a scheduling order, which requests written submissions relating to in absentia proceedings from the Office of the Prosecutor and each of the accused. Since the accused have not yet appointed counsel the Trial Chamber has also asked the STL’s Defence Office to file submissions.

The deadline for all written submissions is 2 November 2011 . A public hearing will be held by the Trial Chamber at 10:00 on 11 November 2011.

Journalists will be sent details of the accreditation process for that hearing in the coming days.

The scheduling order follows a request by the Pre Trial Judge for the Trial Chamber to make a determination whether in absentia proceedings should be initiated.