The pre-trial judge of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has set a deadline for the submission of preliminary motions challenging the STL's jurisdiction. Judge Daniel Fransen convened a status conference on April 12 and said any preliminary motions challenging the tribunal's jurisdiction must be filed by May 4 of this year. The deadline to submit other preliminary motions will be decided in due course. The STL was officially opened under a UN mandate in 2009 to investigate the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri and prosecute those responsible.