EU condemns forged passport use in Dubai murder

European Union foreign ministers have "strongly condemned" the use of forged European passports in the assassination of a top Palestinian militant. The statement made no direct reference to Israel, whose secret services are widely accused of having carried out the killing in January. EU condemns forged passport use in Dubai murder It had been reported that the statement was going to censure Israel over its alleged involvement in the killing. Israel has declined to confirm or deny it killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai. "The EU strongly condemns the fact that those involved in this action used fraudulent EU member states' passports and credit cards acquired through the theft of EU citizen's identities," the statement said. "We are extremely concerned that European passports... can be used in a different manner for a different purpose," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters as he arrived for the meeting. Following the announcement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy "unreservedly condemned" the assassination, speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, news agency AFP said. The EU foreign ministers met in Brussels ahead of a meeting between them and Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. During the private meeting, ministers of the UK, Ireland, Germany and France are expected to question Mr Lieberman about Israel's role in the assassination. Speaking earlier, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said he wanted to "underline our deep concern about the fake use of passports" and to "seek reassurance and clarification on this very serious issue". The ministers' statement did not mention it by name, but Mossad, Israel's secret service, is widely accused of being behind the killing. Mr Mabhouh was killed in Dubai by a team who had entered the country on assumed identities belonging to British, Irish, French and German citizens. The British citizens whose identities were stolen also held Israeli citizenship. The assassins, some disguised in wigs and moustaches, were filmed following Mr Mabhouh, on Dubai's extensive CCTV network. He was killed in his hotel room. An autopsy report said he had been electrocuted and then suffocated. Six British Israeli citizens are to be given new passports by the British embassy in Jerusalem, it was announced on Sunday. The British embassy said it was the first step to clearing their names, which are now on an Interpol wanted list. Police in Dubai have also indicated there could be further revelations to come about the assassination. Some of the estimated 18-strong hit team could have entered the country using diplomatic passports, Lt Gen Dhahi Khalifan Tamim told reporters.

EU condemns forged passport use in Dubai murder

It had been reported that the statement was going to censure Israel over its alleged involvement in the killing.

Israel has declined to confirm or deny it killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.

"The EU strongly condemns the fact that those involved in this action used fraudulent EU member states' passports and credit cards acquired through the theft of EU citizen's identities," the statement said.

"We are extremely concerned that European passports... can be used in a different manner for a different purpose," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters as he arrived for the meeting.

Following the announcement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy "unreservedly condemned" the assassination, speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, news agency AFP said.

The EU foreign ministers met in Brussels ahead of a meeting between them and Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

During the private meeting, ministers of the UK, Ireland, Germany and France are expected to question Mr Lieberman about Israel's role in the assassination.

Speaking earlier, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said he wanted to "underline our deep concern about the fake use of passports" and to "seek reassurance and clarification on this very serious issue".

The ministers' statement did not mention it by name, but Mossad, Israel's secret service, is widely accused of being behind the killing.

Mr Mabhouh was killed in Dubai by a team who had entered the country on assumed identities belonging to British, Irish, French and German citizens.

The British citizens whose identities were stolen also held Israeli citizenship.

The assassins, some disguised in wigs and moustaches, were filmed following Mr Mabhouh, on Dubai's extensive CCTV network.

He was killed in his hotel room. An autopsy report said he had been electrocuted and then suffocated.

Six British Israeli citizens are to be given new passports by the British embassy in Jerusalem, it was announced on Sunday.

The British embassy said it was the first step to clearing their names, which are now on an Interpol wanted list.

Police in Dubai have also indicated there could be further revelations to come about the assassination.

Some of the estimated 18-strong hit team could have entered the country using diplomatic passports, Lt Gen Dhahi Khalifan Tamim told reporters.