![Rafic Hariri, Lebanese business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998. He was assassinated on 14 February 2005 in Beirut, Lebanon [Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/skdslds.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri said Wednesday evidence found by the prosecution could lead to the conviction of four Lebanese Hezbollah suspects accused of planning the attack.
The judges said in their ruling that the bombing which killed the former Lebanese prime minister in 2005 was a “terrorist act”.
According to the court, the ruling means that the lawyers of the four suspects who are being tried in absentia should present their defence.
OPINION: ‘Hezbollah has taken Israel’s role in Syria’
Lawyers of Hussein Hassan Oneissi, the main suspect in the attack which killed Hariri on February, 14 2005 filed a request to the court demanding early acquittal of their client.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has issued five arrest warrants since 2011 for members of Hezbollah, however the group rejected the charges and categorically refused to extradite the suspects.
The other suspects are Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi and Assad Hassan Sabra.