raffic harirari was assassinated. he was prime minister twice, until his resignation in 2004. four members of hezbollah were indicted, they have not been arrested. there were major protests against hezbollah, and its syrian backers. the cedar revolution forced syria to end its military presence in lebanon. >> now to james bays at the hague. the four suspect are not appearing in court. >> that's right. almost nine years after the massive bombing in beirut - yes, the trial has opened, and we are hearing the opening statements, and the prosecutor is laying out his case. he'll do that for another day, laying out his opening case, and we'll hear from lawyers representing the victims and the defense counsel, but the defense are defending defendants who are not here. they are being tried in absentia. the presiding one said everyone in the courtroom had to assume they were there and not guilty. it's unlike other international court cases. the hague is used to trying international cases, whether they relate to africa, sierra leone. this is different. this tribunal in the way it's been

they have been charged with a 2005 assassination of harirari. the men are at large and tried in absentia. battles and bloodshed in mexico. it's a bitter standoff between vigilantes and a drug ar tell. a group of -- cartel. a group of citizens rose up. vig lanties control a third of michoacan. adam raney reports that many are refusing to lay down their guns. >> a shattered symbol of a carr pel losing the support of the people it says it phytes for. once viewed by many with awe and respect. the cartel became feared for praying on those it claimed to protect. extortion, kidnapping and killing are now the hallmarks. >> jorge carrasco reported on knights templar for years. >> it's remembered as a group giving money, helping sick family members. we have the social aspect, but we see the phenomenon of extortion and kidnapping. it is not helping the people, buts extorting them. >> the knights templar made millions trafficking drugs, running illegal mines and protection rack et cetera. the network stretches from mexico to asia. they were born after a spl