The Special Tribunal for Lebanon deemed a report broadcasted recently by Al-Jadeed channel about a 2003 decision by Judge Afif Shamseddine to close MTV as baseless.

"On 17 November 2014 Al-Jadeed published a report which implied that Judge Afif Chamseddine had responded to Syrian pressure in a judgment that resulted in the closure of the Lebanese network, MTV, in 2003," read a statement issued by the tribunal.

"This is a wholly inaccurate report. When the matter came before the Third Chamber of the Court of Cassation a majority decision resulted in the network remaining closed," it added.

The statement noted that Judge Chamseddine, who at the time was the President of the Court of Cassation, issued a dissenting opinion which was well-received at the time by the Lebanese media.