A Syrian representative will meet the UN investigator in charge of the Rafiq Al-Hariri probe in Geneva within 24 hours, according to the UN.

It comes just one day after the investigator, Detlev Mehlis, criticised Syria's failure to co-operate fully. The US quickly accused Damascus of hindering the investigation. And Lebanon's Prime Minister sent a veiled plea to Damascus, saying that 'all sides' must help the UN determine what happened to Hariri.

The announcement of the meeting comes from Al-Mustaqbal Television in Beirut, which was owned by Rafiq Al-Hariri (and has now passed to his son Sa'ad). Sa'ad himself said: "countries that are brothers and friends of Lebanon are required to cooperate."

At the same time, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has back-peddled and says that: "Syria is ready to cooperate with the international enquiry commission to arrive at the truth in the crime of Rafiq al-Hariri's assassination."

The UN noted that Syria offered 'talks' with the UN investigator, but the UN says that is not enough - they want interviews and official documents. Embarrasingly for Syria, Israel and Jordan were praised for their help in the investigation.