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UK presses Israel on Dubai murder UK presses Israel on Dubai murder
(20 minutes later)
The British and Irish governments have called in their Israeli ambassadors over the use of fake passports by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he is determined to "get to the bottom of" fake passports used by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander.
The Israeli Ambassador said he was "unable to add additional information" after he met the head of the UK's diplomatic service.
Dubai police believe 11 "agents with European passports" killed Palestinian militant Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January.Dubai police believe 11 "agents with European passports" killed Palestinian militant Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January.
The Dubai police chief has said he is 99% sure Israel is involved in the killing, according to a UAE newspaper. Dubai's police chief said he was 99% sure of Israeli involvement.
After the meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, the ambassador said he was "unable to add additional information". Israel's foreign minister has said there is no proof its secret service, Mossad, was involved.
The meeting, between Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and Sir Peter Ricketts, head of the UK's diplomatic service, follows a growing international row over the alleged use of bogus passports by the killers. Mr Miliband said he "hoped and expected" that Tel Aviv would cooperate fully with the investigation into the "outrage".
Meanwhile in Ireland, Israeli Ambassador Zion Evrony also insisted he knew nothing about the killing of the Hamas commander. The meeting followed the announcement of an inquiry by Prime Minister Gordon Brown into the passports which bear the names of six British-Israelis who are not the men pictured.
Conservative leader David Cameron had called for Israel's ambassador to the UK to be asked "some pretty tough questions". Mr Miliband refused to reveal what was said in the 20-minute meeting between Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and Sir Peter Ricketts, head of the UK's diplomatic service.
Mr Prosor told journalists afterwards it is "not the usual way to talk about what happens in those meetings".
Ireland also called in its Israeli Ambassador Zion Evrony, who also insisted he knew nothing about the killing of the Hamas commander.
British Conservative leader David Cameron had called for Israel's ambassador to the UK to be asked "some pretty tough questions".
If there was proof Israel had used British passports... relations between the UK and Israel would be in a crisis Jeremy Bowen Pictures of '11 Europeans' Israel's 'covert killing' history No proof of Dubai hit - Israel Irish passports real numbers Bumpy road for relations Reactions to the British connectionIf there was proof Israel had used British passports... relations between the UK and Israel would be in a crisis Jeremy Bowen Pictures of '11 Europeans' Israel's 'covert killing' history No proof of Dubai hit - Israel Irish passports real numbers Bumpy road for relations Reactions to the British connection
Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered an inquiry into the passports, which bear the names of six British-Israelis who are not the men pictured.
But Israel's foreign minister has said there is no proof its secret service, Mossad, was involved.
But in an Abu Dhabi-based English-language paper, General Dahi Khalfan is quoted as saying: "It is 99%, if not 100%, sure that Mossad is standing behind the murder."But in an Abu Dhabi-based English-language paper, General Dahi Khalfan is quoted as saying: "It is 99%, if not 100%, sure that Mossad is standing behind the murder."
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has called on the Foreign Office to confirm when it first knew about the fake passport claims.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has called on the Foreign Office to confirm when it first knew about the fake passport claims.
UK diplomats said they had received details of the British passports a few hours before Dubai released details.UK diplomats said they had received details of the British passports a few hours before Dubai released details.
However Mr Hague told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "entirely possible" the government had been alerted to the alleged use in January.However Mr Hague told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "entirely possible" the government had been alerted to the alleged use in January.
"There have been reports in the Gulf, including one in the Gulf News, right at the end of January, that the head of police in Dubai had contacted consulates and embassies for assistance with this investigation into the suspects," he said."There have been reports in the Gulf, including one in the Gulf News, right at the end of January, that the head of police in Dubai had contacted consulates and embassies for assistance with this investigation into the suspects," he said.
'Crisis''Crisis'
The BBC's Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen said if there was proof Israel had used British passports "for some nefarious uses of its Mossad service - as they have in the past Canadian and New Zealand ones", then relations between the UK and Israel would be "in a crisis".The BBC's Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen said if there was proof Israel had used British passports "for some nefarious uses of its Mossad service - as they have in the past Canadian and New Zealand ones", then relations between the UK and Israel would be "in a crisis".
The Serious Organised Crime Agency has confirmed photographs and signatures on the passports used in Dubai do not match those on passports issued by the UK.The Serious Organised Crime Agency has confirmed photographs and signatures on the passports used in Dubai do not match those on passports issued by the UK.
The men whose names appeared on the passports have dual British and Israeli citizenship.The men whose names appeared on the passports have dual British and Israeli citizenship.
They are Melvyn Adam Mildiner, Paul John Keeley, James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Michael Lawrence Barney and Jonathan Lewis Graham. They all deny involvement in the killing.They are Melvyn Adam Mildiner, Paul John Keeley, James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Michael Lawrence Barney and Jonathan Lewis Graham. They all deny involvement in the killing.

Hamas killing

Police in Dubai have issued arrest warrants for 11 suspects they want to question about the killing of a senior Hamas official in Dubai. The suspects include six men travelling on false British passports.
Three other suspects, including one woman, were travelling on false Irish passports. Two further suspects had French and German papers. Dubai police say they appeared to be a professional hit-squad.
Dubai police say the suspects only spent a day in the country. Here two of them are seen arriving at a local shopping centre. Three others were filmed arriving at the same centre. The suspects did not make contact by phone.
Police allege that one of the suspects, pictured on the left pulling a trolley, went to a hotel to put on a disguise. He is seen entering a men's toilet and later left wearing a wig.
Their alleged victim, Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is seen at the hotel reception, circled in red above. At the bottom of the image the head of one of the suspects can just be seen. As Mr Mabhouh leaves, the suspect follows.
Mr Mabhouh is followed into the lift by a number of the suspects, including two pictured here in tennis gear. It is thought he had been followed from Syria to Dubai where he wanted to buy weapons for Hamas.
When Mr Mabhouh leaves the lift, the police say he was followed by one of the suspects, who appeared to be trying to establish which room he was staying in. He was later killed in his room.
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Hamas killing

Police in Dubai have issued arrest warrants for 11 suspects they want to question about the killing of a senior Hamas official in Dubai. The suspects include six men travelling on false British passports.
Three other suspects, including one woman, were travelling on false Irish passports. Two further suspects had French and German papers. Dubai police say they appeared to be a professional hit-squad.
Dubai police say the suspects only spent a day in the country. Here two of them are seen arriving at a local shopping centre. Three others were filmed arriving at the same centre. The suspects did not make contact by phone.
Police allege that one of the suspects, pictured on the left pulling a trolley, went to a hotel to put on a disguise. He is seen entering a men's toilet and later left wearing a wig.
Their alleged victim, Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is seen at the hotel reception, circled in red above. At the bottom of the image the head of one of the suspects can just be seen. As Mr Mabhouh leaves, the suspect follows.
Mr Mabhouh is followed into the lift by a number of the suspects, including two pictured here in tennis gear. It is thought he had been followed from Syria to Dubai where he wanted to buy weapons for Hamas.
When Mr Mabhouh leaves the lift, the police say he was followed by one of the suspects, who appeared to be trying to establish which room he was staying in. He was later killed in his room.
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The details of the suspects and their passport photos were released by officials in Dubai earlier this week.The details of the suspects and their passport photos were released by officials in Dubai earlier this week.
The Republic of Ireland government has said Irish passports used by three people believed to have been involved in killing a Hamas member had genuine numbers.The Republic of Ireland government has said Irish passports used by three people believed to have been involved in killing a Hamas member had genuine numbers.
However, authorities said while the numbers were legitimate, they did not match records for the names which had been used - Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron.However, authorities said while the numbers were legitimate, they did not match records for the names which had been used - Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron.
Its Department of Foreign Affairs said officials were urgently trying to contact the three citizens who hold or have held passports with these numbers.Its Department of Foreign Affairs said officials were urgently trying to contact the three citizens who hold or have held passports with these numbers.
France and Germany have also reportedly raised doubts over the identities of two suspects who used a French and a German passport.France and Germany have also reportedly raised doubts over the identities of two suspects who used a French and a German passport.
Mr Mabhouh was murdered in his hotel room in Dubai.Mr Mabhouh was murdered in his hotel room in Dubai.
Reports have suggested he was there to buy weapons for the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas.Reports have suggested he was there to buy weapons for the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas.
Two Palestinian suspects were being questioned about the murder. Police said they had "fled to Jordan" after the killing and have not released their names.Two Palestinian suspects were being questioned about the murder. Police said they had "fled to Jordan" after the killing and have not released their names.
Officials in Dubai, who have issued arrest warrants, said the team appeared to be a professional hit squad, probably sponsored by a foreign power.Officials in Dubai, who have issued arrest warrants, said the team appeared to be a professional hit squad, probably sponsored by a foreign power.
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CCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai policeCCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai police