Britain to expel Israeli diplomat

Britain to expel Israeli diplomat over assassination of Mahmud al-Mabhuh

[link to www.news.com.au]

BRITAIN is to expel an Israeli diplomat in response to the use of fake British passports in the killing of a Hamas commander in Dubai, Sky News has reported.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman refused to comment on the reports but said Foreign Secretary David Miliband would make a statement to Parliament.

The London Daily Telegraph reported that Israeli ambassador to London Ron Prosor had been called in by the Foreign Office on Monday, fuelling speculation of a possible diplomatic expulsion.

Mr Miliband had last month urged Israel to give its "full cooperation" to an international probe into the use of fake passports by the killers of Mahmud al-Mabhuh, a founder of Hamas' armed wing, on January 20.

Israel has said there is no proof in widespread allegations that its spy agency, Mossad, was behind the murder, and media reports suggest Britain will not contest this.

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However, the Telegraph reported that Miliband would use his statement to formally name the Israeli security services as responsible for cloning the British passports.

Britain called in the Israeli ambassador to London to discuss the issue in February, after Dubai police released photos and names of European passport holders alleged to have been members of the hit squad.

They say the suspects entered Dubai on fake passports using the identities of 12 people from Britain, six from Ireland, four from France, three Australians and a German, before fleeing the Gulf emirate.

International police agency Interpol have issued arrest notices for 27 suspects wanted by Dubai in connection with the killing.

The Israeli embassy in London was unavailable for comment.