The Special Tribunal for Lebanon resumed on Wednesday the trial in the Ayyash et al. case tackling the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The trial at the Hague kicked off with Registrar Daryl Mundis confirming that none of the five accused came forward to appear before the trial.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Thursday issued a decision confirming June 18 as the date for the resumption of trial in the Ayyash et al. case, rejecting a postponement appeal filed by the counsel of the accused Hassan Merhi.

“The Appeals Chamber today rendered a decision confirming June 18 as the date for the resumption of trial in the Ayyash et al. case,” the STL said in a statement.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri issued on Thursday a decision providing written reasons for the assignment of counsel in the case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and al-Akhbar newspaper's editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin.

The initial appearances of Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and al-Amin, which were originally scheduled for May 13, were rescheduled to May 29 upon the request of the accused.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has “highlighted the importance of the work” of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon “in tackling impunity for the crimes within its jurisdiction.”

Ban voiced his remarks during a meeting with Head of STL Defense Office Francois Roux at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on May 27, the STL announced on Friday.

Al-Akhbar daily editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin withdrew on Thursday from the initial appearance in the contempt case filed against him by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Amin withdrew from the session, before which he appeared via video-link from Lebanon, when STL Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri interrupted him as he was reading a statement on his position from the STL.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday rejected a request by al-Akhbar newspaper editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin to postpone his initial appearance before the court in the contempt case beyond the scheduled May 29 session.

“On May 26, 2014, I received a letter from Mr. al-Amin, raising several concerns in relation to the initial appearance. However, I consider that a letter is not the appropriate way to bring such matters to my attention,” Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri said in an order dated May 27, 2014.

Contempt Judge at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Nicola Lettieri ordered on Friday the initial appearances on May 29 of the Accused in the case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and its editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin.

The journalist and the media organization are charged with contempt before the STL for knowingly and willfully interfering with the administration of justice, the Tribunal said in a statement.

An initial hearing for Lebanese journalists and their media organizations on charges of contempt was held Tuesday at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon headquarters in The Hague, amid the absence of al-Akhbar's editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin who said he won't go to the court “unless measures are taken” to prove that it is seeking justice.

The STL said via twitter that the purpose of the initial appearance is for the judge to ensure that the rights of the accused and the right to be represented by counsel are respected.

The Trial Chamber of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Monday ordered the resumption of trial of the five accused in the Ayyash et al. case on June 18, 2014.

During a status conference that tackled the resumption of trial and Lebanon's cooperation with the STL, "the Trial Chamber issued an oral ruling, setting the date for the resumption of trial on Wednesday, 18 June," the court said in a statement.

New TV S.A.L. and Karma Tahsin al-Khayat will testify before the international court on charges of “contempt and obstruction of justice,” the Kuwaiti al-Rai daily reported Monday, as al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin announced that he will not appear before the court.

Al-Amin said he won't go to The Hague because the STL did not respond to his request to postpone the hearing.