Podcast
Australia warns Israel over Dubai assassination IDs
Updated: 2010-02-26 13:02
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Australia warned Israel yesterday that if it was involved in the alleged use of three fraudulent Australian passports in a Dubai assassination it would not be considered the "act of a friend," the foreign minister said.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith summoned Israel's ambassador and demanded his cooperation in a probe into the use of the passports in the killing of a senior Hamas figure.
Dubai authorities are investigating the use of at least 26 possibly fraudulent passports in connection with the Jan 19 slaying of Mahmoud al-
Mabhouh in a hotel room in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Dubai's police chief, Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said he was nearly "100 percent" certain that Israel's Mossad secret service masterminded the killing. Hamas has also blamed Israel and vowed revenge.
Israeli officials have a policy of not commenting on allegations about any of its spy agency's activities.
Dubai police have outlined a 19-hour operation to kill al-Mabhouh, including clockwork precision and disguises such as fake beards, wigs and tourist garb.
Israel says al-Mabhouh played a central role in smuggling weapons from Iran to Gaza militants.
The suspects using foreign passports are 12 Britons, six Irish, four French, three Australians and one German. The fact that many of the 26 passports share names with people living in Israel has reinforced suspicion about Mossad involvement and brought sharp complaints from European capitals about how the expertly altered passports were obtained.
（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
