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Dubai: 15 New Suspects in Hamas Killing

     24 February 2010
   Palestinian  Hamas  militants  participate  a  rally for the memory of
   Hamas  commander  Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, seen in the portrait, in town of
   Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, 17 Feb 2010

Photo: AP

   Palestinian  Hamas  militants  participate  a  rally for the memory of
   Hamas  commander  Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, seen in the portrait, in town of
   Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, 17 Feb 2010

   Dubai  police  have identified 15 new suspects in the killing of a top
   Hamas militant in the emirate last month.
   The development Wednesday raises the total number of suspects to 26.
   Authorities  say  the  newly-named  suspects  carried  passports  from
   France,  Britain,  Ireland  and  Australia.    Dubai  police said in a
   statement  that  "friendly  nations" have indicated the passports were
   issued in an "illegal and fraudulent manner."
   Police  say  the  new  suspects  include  ten  men  and five women who
   provided logistical support to an alleged hit squad.  Dubai police say
   the  killers  assassinated  Hamas  commander  Mahmoud  al-Mabhouh in a
   luxury hotel on January 19.

   The  original  11  suspected  killers  carried  forged  passports from
   Britain, Ireland, Germany and France.
   The  European  Union  has  called  for full cooperation with the Dubai
   investigation.
   Dubai has accused Israel's spy agency, the Mossad, of carrying out the
   hit.  Israel has declined to comment on that claim.
   On Tuesday, Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni praised al-Mabhouh's
   killing, saying his death was good news to those fighting terrorism.
   Also   Tuesday,   an   Iranian   Foreign   Ministry  spokesman,  Ramin
   Mehmanparast,  condemned the Dubai killing as an act of "Israeli state
   terrorism."


   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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