Spokesperson for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Marten Youssef defended the tribunal's summons of two Lebanese journalists and two media organizations on charges of contempt for interfering with the administration of justice, saying that legal measures should be taken against the publication of secret affairs linked to trials, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

He told the daily that the contempt case is not aimed at silencing the Lebanese media, but protecting the witnesses in the case.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi confirmed on Saturday that his commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's request in the case of Al-Jadeed TV's Karma al-Khayat and al-Akhbar daily's Ibrahim al-Amin was not discussed at the cabinet session, stressing that he has no choice but to implement the law.

The Minister told al-Liwaa daily that his commitment to the STL's request was not “discussed during Friday's cabinet session nor was it brought up by any of the ministers.”

President Michel Suleiman said Friday he has asked Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil to seek clarifications from Iran regarding remarks by one of its top military officials about southern Lebanon, as the cabinet approved 15 top tier administrative appointments.

“During the national dialogue session (on Monday), a statement attributed to Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials was discussed and the foreign minister was asked to seek a clarification from the Iranian side,” Suleiman said during a cabinet session in Baabda.

The Contempt Judge at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has ordered initial appearances on Tuesday, May 13 of the accused in the case against New TV S.A.L. and Karma Khayat, and of the Accused in the case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Ibrahim al-Amin, announced the STL in a statement on Wednesday.

“The two journalists and two media organizations were charged with contempt before the tribunal for knowingly and willfully interfering with the administration of justice,” it added.

President Michel Suleiman requested that General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud explain to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon the country's commitment to freedom of the media.

He requested that he explain the extent to which Lebanon respects laws on the freedom of the media.

Lawmakers once again failed on Wednesday to elect a new president as differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances led to a lack of quorum in the second parliamentary session aimed at choosing a new head of state.

While the March 14 camp held onto its candidate Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections over lack of consensus on one candidate.

Several lawmakers voiced their solidarity on Wednesday with journalists of al-Jadeed TV and al-Akhbar newspaper, who were summoned by the international court on charges of “contempt and obstruction of Justice.”

Hizbullah's MP Hassan Fadlallah told reporters present at the parliament's press room that the move comes in light of the assault on the freedom of the Lebanese, slamming the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's action.

The Kataeb Party stressed on Monday the need for all lawmakers to achieve the quorum of Wednesday's parliamentary session to elect a president.

It said in a statement after its weekly politburo meeting: “The party will take part in the second round of the elections and all other subsequent ones.”

Information Minister Ramzi Jreij considered on Monday that the media can criticize the Special Tribunal for Lebanon if there is a need, slamming the summons by the international court of al-Jadeed TV and al-Akhbar newspaper's journalists on charges of “contempt and obstruction of justice.”

“The reports published by the two media outlets are responsible and just criticism,” Jreij said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

The summons by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon of al-Jadeed TV and al-Akhbar newspaper's journalists on charges of “contempt and obstruction of justice” are “void” and could be refuted.

Lawyer Antoine Korkmaz, who is suspect Mustafa Badreddine's lead defense counsel, told As Safir newspaper on Saturday that the case “is legally invalid.”