Hariri tribunal proceeds without suspects LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- The U.N. tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister announced it would try four men accused of the attack in absentia. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The tribunal in July released the names of the four suspects -- Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Ainessi and Assad Hassan Sabra -- tied to Hezbollah and wanted for the assassination. Beirut was tasked with apprehending the alleged suspects. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who described the tribunal as part of an Israeli plot, said they'd never be detained. "The trial chamber concluded that all reasonable steps have been taken to secure the appearance of the accused and to notify them of the charges against them," the tribunal said in a statement. The tribunal announced that it assigned permanent counsel to the four men accused of the bombing attack that killed Hariri and 21 other people. The head of the tribunal's defense office said he was confident the assigned counsel was "experienced and competent." The prosecution in the case is required to disclose supporting material to the assigned counsel within 30 working days. The tribunal acknowledged the difficulty in defending the accused in their absence, noting the defense office "shall provide counsel with legal advice and practical support."