BERLIN, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Detlev Mehlis, a German who has led the UN inquiry into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, said here Wednesday that he expected to hand over his work next month.

    Mehlis, on leave from his post as a Berlin senior public prosecutor, said he hoped to hand over his inquiry job to his successor by the middle of January.

    Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz is expected to take over his job.

    Mehlis had asked to leave the post after the inquiry lasted overtime.

    The U.N. Security Council decided last week to extend the mandate of the inquiry for another six months. Enditem