Here’s a Saturday surprise; the United Nations investigator responsible for the probe into the murder of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri has unequivocally blamed Syria for the killing.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - The chief U.N. investigator into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said in remarks published Saturday that he believed Syrian authorities were behind the killing.

It was the first time that Detlev Mehlis has unequivocally accused Syria of responsibility for Hariri’s assassination since opening the U.N. probe in June.

Asked by the London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat if he was firmly convinced that Syria was behind Hariri’s killing, Mehlis replied, “Yes.”

Asked whether he was directly accusing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Mehlis said, “Let’s say the Syrian authorities.” He declined to elaborate.