DUBAI // Hamas has praised Dubai Police for its investigation of the assassination of one of its veteran leaders. "The world can finally see that we didn't react out of emotions and it wasn't just a knee-jerk reaction to accuse Mossad of killing al Mabhouh, but rather it was based on information we collected on the case," said Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon. "We are willing to fully co-operate and exchange any information we have to help the authorities bring the assassins to justice."
Mr Hamdan said a special team within Hamas was carrying out its own investigation. Hamas has yet to say why al Mabhouh was in Dubai. "There have been many reports about him being there to buy arms and other theories, which at this point we will not comment on, as the true reason behind his visit to Dubai will shortly be officially announced and it will surprise people," said Mr Hamdan. While Dubai Police's chief, Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said the execution method was characteristic of Mossad, he has stopped short of directly accusing Israel of the murder.
He said, however, that, should Mossad be implicated, an arrest warrant would be issued for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. rghazal@thenational.ae
