| The chief of Dubai police called on Hamas to launch an internal inquiry into the murder of a top official at a Dubai hotel last month, an English newspaper of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported Sunday.
A Hamas member played a significant role in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior commander of Hamas military wing the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades, Dahi Khalfan Tamim was quoted as saying by Gulf News.
The Hamas man leaked information on al-Mabhouh's whereabouts to suspected assassins, he said.
According to the police chief, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, requested the UAE to hand over two Palestinian suspects held by the Gulf nation in connection with the assassination.
"I ask him to initiate an internal investigation because I am certain that there has been a security breach from their side," Tamim said.
He said the suspects' earlier visit to Dubai has been recorded, adding that in the past year, some of them entered the UAE at least twice to monitor al-Mabhouh and plan the operation.
Tamim praised cooperation from some European nations, saying he was sure that their intelligence agencies did not cooperate with Mossad, Israel's secret agency responsible for foreign intelligence.
Al-Mabhouh, 50, was born in the Gaza Strip but has been living in Syria since 1989. He was found dead in his hotel room on Jan. 20, a day after he arrived in Dubai.
The Hamas official was wanted by the Israeli government in connection with the kidnappings of two Israeli soldiers in 1989. Hamas has accused Mossad of carrying out the assassination.
On Monday, Tamim said 11 European passport holders are suspected to have been involved in the killing of al-Mabhouh.
He said the suspects include six Britons, one French, one German and three Irish nationals, including a woman. Initial investigation showed that some of the suspects used fake passports from the European nations. |
