The U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Thursday condemned “in the strongest possible terms” what it called “the latest attempt to interfere with the proper administration of justice by publishing a list of alleged witnesses and potentially endangering the lives of Lebanese citizens.”

The website of al-Mustaqbal newspaper, which is owned by slain ex-premier Rafik Hariri's family, was hacked on Tuesday and its front page was replaced with the alleged names of the “secret witnesses in the STL” by a group calling itself “Journalists for the Truth.” The list can also be found on the group's website.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesman Marten Youssef stressed on Thursday that the publishing of an alleged list of witnesses in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's murder case aimed to intimidate the witnesses.

“The publishing of the names of people who are allegedly witnesses in the court is an attempt to intimidate the witnesses,” Youssef told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed concern on Thursday over reports saying that Hizbullah fighters are deeply involved in battles on Syrian territories.

Geagea wondered if Hizbullah is seeking to make the Syrian crisis slip into Lebanon and inflict further division between the Lebanese.

The fourth annual report on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s activities was sent this week to Prime Minister Najib Miqati and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

“Our aim is to help the people of Lebanon restore in full the operation of the rule of law in Lebanon, so that they and their families may enjoy the peace and tranquility that is their birthright,” STL President Judge Sir David Baragwanath, noted in the report, which is available on the Tribunal's website.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has warned that Syria's war would pull Lebanon into its “vortex” and encouraged Lebanese officials to ensure that the parliamentary elections take place on a consensual basis.

"Even tentative steps to dialogue are struggling to take root. The destructive military spiral churns more forcefully each day and threatens to pull its neighbors, most notably and worrisomely Lebanon, into its vortex," Feltman told the U.N. Security Council about the fighting between the troops of Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels seeking to topple him.

The judges of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon have approved some amendments to the tribunal's Rules of Procedure and Evidence which “clarify and improve the existing rules” and “speed up proceedings."

“At a Plenary meeting, the Judges of the STL have approved some amendments to the Tribunal's Rules of Procedure and Evidence,” the STL said in a statement on Monday.

The Deputy Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Friday the court had “faith” in the judgment of Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen, a day after he postponed the provisional March 25 start date for trials.

“We have faith in Judge Fransen's judgment, and he knows best if the case is ready for trial,” said Daryl Mundis, the Deputy Registrar, in a Q&A session on twitter.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen postponed on Thursday the start of trial in the case of Ayyash et al., announced the STL in a statement.

The decision is in response to the Defense Counsel for the four accused in the February 14, 2005 attack asking Fransen to postpone the trial date.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged on Thursday for consensus among rival lawmakers on an electoral draft-law and welcomed Lebanon's commitment to cooperate with Bulgarian authorities on the probe into a deadly attack on Israeli tourists last year.

“In these difficult times, it is important that political forces in Lebanon come together in a spirit of dialogue and consensus to agree a process that respects the constitutional timetable for this year's elections,” Hague said after talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.

The United States encourages “all parties to exercise restraint and respect for Lebanon’s security and stability, consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday, in a statement marking the 8th assassination anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“Those who initiated the killing sought to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. This act of cold blooded mass murder sent shivers throughout the region. I will never forget sitting in Beirut soon after for my meetings held next to a portrait of Hariri shrouded in black,” Kerry said, recalling his visit to Lebanon in 2005.