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The attorney of the detainees in the case of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper Hassan Bazzi submitted on Wednesday requests for their release, with a decision in this regard to be taken on Friday morning.

Monday, April 11, was the date set for the first trial of the detainees.

Yesterday, Beirut State Prosecutor for Appeals Judge Ziad Abou Haidar issued warrants against seven people who were arrested on the backdrop of storming Asharq al-Awsat newspaper offices and vandalizing the contents last week.

Abou Haidar referred the suspects to Beirut First Examining Magistrate Judge Ghassan Owaidat.

Several young men stormed last Friday the offices of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in Beirut, causing vandalism and material damages.

The step comes after the Saudi-owned daily published a caricature in its Friday edition depicting the Lebanese state as an April Fools' joke, provoking angry reactions by Lebanese citizens.

The cartoon shows a Lebanese flag with the text "April Fools... the Lebanese state" written over it.

For more details, watch the full report in the video above.