UK TO EXPEL ISRAELI DIPLOMAT OVER DUBAI CASE
Hamas militant, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh (ringed), is shown arriving at his hotel in this CCTV handout
LONDON – Britain's government will expel an Israeli diplomat from London on Tuesday over the use of forged British passports in the suspected Mossad assassination of a Hamas operative.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband was scheduled to address lawmakers in the House of Commons over the issue, following the conclusion of an investigation into the use of fake U.K. documents.
Source: AP
Foreign Secretary David Miliband was scheduled to address lawmakers in the House of Commons over the issue, following the conclusion of an investigation into the use of fake U.K. documents.
- Miliband's office declined to provide details of his statement in advance, citing Parliamentary rules. But a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment ahead of the statement, confirmed that Britain will expel one Israeli diplomat.
- Israel's foreign ministry confirmed that the country's ambassador to Britain Ron Prosor was called to London's Foreign Office on Monday for talks.
- Britain sent investigators to Israel this month to meet eight Israeli-British dual nationals whose identities were used by syspects in the Jan 20. slaying of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a luxury hotel room.
- Dubai authorities have accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of being behind the slaying, and have identified at least 26 suspects from the alleged hit squad that traveled to Dubai on fake identities and forged European and Australian passports.
- At least 15 of the suspected killers share names with Israeli citizens, further fueling suspicions the Mossad was behind the hit. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in al-Mabhouh's killing.
- Interpol has published a wanted list of 27 people in connection with the slaying.
DUBAI POLICE CHIEF ASKS SPIES TO LEAVE THE REGION WITHIN A WEEK
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief
Dubai, UAE - Dubai Police have warned spies operating in the Gulf to leave the region within one week or face consequences.
"Those spies that are currently present in the Gulf must leave the region within one week, if not, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it," Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim told Gulf News.
"Those spies that are currently present in the Gulf must leave the region within one week, if not, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it," Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim told Gulf News.
- The statement comes following the January 19 assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, which Dahi has blamed on Israel.
- The ultimatum indicates that Dubai Police are aware of the identities of spies operating in the UAE and the Gulf region and appears to be a warning of exposure if they do not comply.
- Asked if the alleged spies are holders of European passports, the police chief said: "Europeans and others", but he did not respond when asked if he was also referring to spies holding Arab passports.
- It is unclear if Dahi was referring to spies working for European governments or those who use European passports to spy for others.
- Dahi also accused Israel of "vast falsification" of Western passports. "We discover false passports on a daily basis," he said.
AUSTRALIA WARNS ISRAEL OVER USE OF ITS PASSPORTS
Canberra: Australia has summoned Israel's ambassador and demanded cooperation in an investigation of the abuse of three Australian passports allegedly used in a Dubai assassination.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Thursday said he had warned Israel that if it was involved in the passport abuse, it would not be seen as a friendly act.
Dubai authorities are investigating the use of at least 26 possibly fraudulent passports in connection with the January slaying of senior Hamas figure Mahmud al-Mabhuh in a hotel room in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Source: AP
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Thursday said he had warned Israel that if it was involved in the passport abuse, it would not be seen as a friendly act.
Dubai authorities are investigating the use of at least 26 possibly fraudulent passports in connection with the January slaying of senior Hamas figure Mahmud al-Mabhuh in a hotel room in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
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