The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Trial Chamber rejected motions by the defense counsel for the four accused to suspend or reconsider in absentia proceedings, it announced in a press release on Wednesday.

“The defense counsel had argued in their motions that in absentia trials are a violation of human rights and that the accused were not properly notified of the charges against them,” it explained.

Lebanese authorities have released a Syrian dissident who was arrested on the weekend upon his arrival from Egypt, Syrian activists said.

"Zakaria Mutlak was released this evening," Beirut-based Syrian activist Kinan Ali told Agence France Presse, without elaborating.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi noted on Wednesday that the powers carrying out assassinations in Lebanon enjoy political cover.

He said before reporters at his Diman summer residence: “The spread of arms in Lebanon outside the authority of the state is to blame for the return of assassinations.”

A group of hackers on Wednesday infiltrated the website of the Israeli right-wing newspaper Maariv and placed the picture of slain Hizbullah leader Imad Mughniyeh on its front page.

The hackers also penetrated the website’s horoscope page and changed its link to point to a site commemorating Mughniyeh.

The March 14 General Secretariat slammed on Wednesday the government’s competency, renewing its demand for its resignation.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The frequent protests and sit-ins are a sign of the government’s inability to tackle the people’s concerns.”

Israeli troops crossed the barbed wire fence in the Wazzani area at dawn Wednesday and stayed at the river’s eastern bank for several hours before withdrawing to Israeli territories, the National News Agency reported.

NNA said an 11-member patrol crossed the fence at around 3:00 am and remained until 7:30 am near the area of al-Muntazahat.

Judge Elie Helou issued a verdict in the case of a teacher who was accused of sexually abusing 11 children at St. Joseph School in Aintoura, Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) reported on Wednesday.

According to the radio station, Helou considered the case a misdemeanor and not a felony and convicted Pierre Sh. from 6 to 10 years in jail.

The cabinet withdrew on Wednesday the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon article from the 2012 draft state budget.

The government members agreed to fund the STL from outside the state budget.

Forty percent of Lebanese hold a favorable opinion of Hizbullah, which receives its highest overall ratings in Tunisia from among six Muslim-majority countries, according to a poll published in the U.S.

But in Lebanon views about Hizbullah are sharply divided along sectarian lines: 94% of Shiites, 33% of Christians, and 5% of Sunnis give the group favorable marks, according to the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in recent months.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Wednesday he enjoys freedom of expression despite being imprisoned in his residence in Maarab over fears that he could be the target of another assassination attempt.

In an interview with al-Joumhouria daily, Geagea said: “We are not in a prison. We have a free opinion that we could express wherever we are.”