| The Military Tribunal Friday postponed the trial of 32 Lebanese and three Palestinians accused of forming a group and bombing several US restaurant chains, to Sep. 13, 2003. Thirty-one suspects attended a session presided over by Brigadier General Maher Safieddine, who noted that the suspects were not represented by a lawyer, which caused the postponement of the trial. The Military Tribunal sent a letter to the North Lebanon Bar Association, calling for defense lawyers to be appointed. Before the session was adjourned, suspect Haitham Said Bassem complained about the âbad situation of prisoners in the military policeâs prison in the Noura in Sin al-Fil.â Bassem said the prisoners were put in isolation and were not allowed to meet, and were subject to psychological pressure. Safieddine promised to look into the issue. The list of charges includes an attempt to assassinate US Ambassador Vincent Battle and creating a laboratory to manufacture bacterial weapons. |