European countries slam Israel over Dubai hit

Four European countries whose passports were implicated in a Hamas commander's killing in Dubai have piled up pressure on Israel.

Britain, Ireland, France and Germany on Thursday called in Israeli envoys for talks at their foreign ministries on the killing last month, widely suspected to be the work of the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, using false passports.

At the same time Interpol issued arrest notices for 11 suspects — six listed with British passports, three Irish, one French and one German — wanted by Dubai for the killing of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in the emirate.

Dubai Police Chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim said Thursday that he was "99 percent, if not 100 percent certain that Mossad is behind the murder," the United Arab Emirates newspaper The National reported.

In Dublin, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin announced "frank" talks with Israel's envoy — usually diplomatic code for angry exchanges — saying he regarded the use of false passports as "an extremely serious incident."

New information provided from Dubai authorities linked two other forged Irish passports to the killing, said the ministry.

A spokesman said that Ireland had heard reports that, in addition to the 11 names already identified, there might be up to eight others involved. It believed the two extra Irish passports are part of this new batch, AFP reported.

In Paris, a spokesman said the foreign ministry had "expressed France's deep concern about the malicious and fraudulent use" of a French passport in a meeting with Israeli charge d'affaires Sammy Ravel.

Germany, meanwhile, demanded an explanation from Israel over the killing, in a meeting between a top German foreign ministry diplomat and the Israeli charge d'affaires in Berlin.

Diplomatic tension has mounted over Mabhouh killing after Dubai's police chief revealed that 11 European passport holders were allegedly involved.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=118963§ionid=351020202.