EU ministers condemn Dubai assassination

EU foreign ministers in Brussels have condemned the killing of a Hamas official and the forging of EU passports. However, they did not directly reference Israel in their criticism. The diplomats, attending the Foreign and General Affairs Council, expressed concern over the incident.

Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish Foreign Minister, said, "...we are extremely concerned that, the European Passport Office are very, you know, rigorous, and legal documents can be used in a different manner and for different purpose."

Jean Hasselborn, Luxembourg Foregin Minister, said, "If the culprits are identified, we, the European Union, have to make sure that our passports are not used to this end. These acts do not belong in the 21st Century."

The body of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was found in a Dubai hotel room last month. Suspicion has fallen on a hit squad from Israel’s Mossad spy agency. Israel had linked al-Mabhouh to the smuggling of arms into Gaza and the slaying of two Israeli soldiers.

An image taken from hotel surveillance shows Hamas militant Mahmud al-Mabhuh (circled) checking into a Dubai hotel shortly before  his murder in January 2010. EU foreign ministers have voiced  outrage at the murder of a Hamas commander in Dubai and the  misuse of European passports by the killers, as they prepared to  grill their Israeli counterpart over the assassination.  (AFP/Dubai Police/File)