Australia angered by passport fraud

[ 26/02/2010 - 12:43 PM ]

CANBERRA, (PIC)-- The Israeli ambassador to Australia was summoned, on Thursday, to a meeting with the country's foreign minister after the Dubai police revealed that three people carrying Australian passports were involved in the assassination of senior Hamas figure, Mahmoud al-Mbahouh.

Dubai police have named 15 new suspects in the assassination of Mabhouh, who was found dead in his hotel room last month.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was angered by the use of Australian passports in the assassinations has ordered a full investigation by the Australian Federal Police.

The Israeli ambassador, Yuval Rotem, who was asked to attend an early-morning meeting at the Canberra parliament was told by foreign minister Stephen Smith that if Israeli involvement was proved it would "not be the actions of a friend".

"I made it crystal clear to the ambassador that if the results of that investigation caused us to come to the conclusion that the abuse of Australian passports was in any way sponsored or condoned by Israeli officials, then Australia would not regard that as the act of a friend," Mr. Smith told reporters.

In March 2004, two suspected Mossad agents were arrested in New Zealand and later convicted for fraudulently trying to obtain Australian and New Zealand passports from the country, prompting diplomatic sanctions.

Meanwhile, an ex- agent of the Mossad told ABC radio that the spy agency had used Australian passports for previous operations, according to an AFP report.

Former Mossad case officer Victor Ostrovsky added: "I know people had been under Australian cover not once (but) quite a few times. So why not use it (again)?"


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