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EU ‘extremely concerned’ over passport use

A combination image made from undated photos released by the Dubai Ruler's Media Office on Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, which were claimed by Dubai's Police Chief to show eleven suspects wanted in connection with the killing of a Hamas commander, Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, in his Dubai hotel room last month. (From left to right, top row): Evan Dennings of Irish nationality, Gail Folliard of Irish nationality, James Leonard Clarke of British nationality, Jonathan Louis Graham of British nationality; (From left to right, middle row) Michael Bodenheimer of German nationality, Paul John Keeley of British nationality, Michael Lawrence Barney of British nationality; (From left to right, bottom row) Peter Elvinger of French nationality, Kevin Daveron of Irish nationality, Melvyn Adam Mildiner of British nationality, Stephen Daniel Hodes of British nationality.

Diplomatic sources said the ministers, meeting in Brussels, may not mention Israel by name but their statement was intended to show disapproval at the assassination last month by a team of assassins.

Dubai authorities say the assassins used forged British, Irish, French and German passports and were sent by Israel. Israel has declined to confirm or deny this.

“It will be quite a strong statement... It will make reference to ‘extra-judicial killing’ and the fact that these passports were used,” one of the sources said.

“It doesn’t matter if (the statement) doesn’t mention Israel, the message will be clear. How many countries can it be referring to?”

The statement is being drafted by France, Germany, Ireland and Britain and will then be put to the rest of the 27 EU foreign ministers for approval, the sources said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said the use of faked passports in the killing of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel on Jan. 19 was an issue of concern for all EU member states.

“We’re extremely concerned that a passport, which is a very rigorous and legal document, can be used in a different manner and for a different purpose,” he told reporters in Brussels.

“We’re going to discuss it and I hope we will issue a statement expressing our concern.”

Maintaining its policy of ambiguity on sensitive issues such as assassinations, Israel has refused to confirm or deny involvement in Mabhouh’s death or the allegations that passports were falsified.

Dubai police say they believe Israeli agents carried out the assassination and have released the identities of 11 people travelling on passports from Britain, Ireland, France and Germany who they say were involved.

Several of those people have denied any role or ever having visited Dubai, leading investigators to suggest the Israel’s overseas spy agency Mossad copied the passports and amended them to allow the assassins to enter the Emirate under false identities and carry out the assassination.

• UAE