Australia checks evidence against Israel

FM Smith doesn't say if similar action will be taken to UK in Dubai hit case.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Suspected al-Mabhouh assassins 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Suspected al-Mabhouh assassins 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
An Australian investigation into fake passports used by a suspected hit squad that assassinated a Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai will examine a British report that found evidence that Israel was responsible for forging the documents.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Wednesday that British Foreign Secretary David Miliband offered him the report by the Serious and Organized Crime Agency for use by Australian police in their investigation into four forged Australian passports allegedly used by the suspects.
Britain took the extraordinary step of expelling an Israeli diplomat for the first time in more than 20 years after concluding there was compelling evidence that Israel was responsible for the use of doctored British passports in the plot to kill Mabhouh in January.
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Smith declined to say whether his government was likely to take similar action when the Australian investigation concludes. He said he did not know when that investigation would end.
"To make any commentary or remarks about what the United Kingdom government has done would necessarily cut across our own investigation and what decisions we might make," Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
"Suffice to say we are treating this matter very seriously. Israelunderstands that and when I receive the (Australian) report, we'll makejudgments which will be in Australia's national interest," he said.
Milibandtold the House of Commons on Tuesday the expelled diplomat, who was notnamed, was ordered to leave following an investigation into the use of12 fake UK passports linked to al-Mabhouh's Jan 20. assassination.
Dubaiauthorities accuse the Mossad of carrying out the killing in a luxuryhotel room, and have identified at least 26 suspects from an allegedhit squad.
Smith said there was no evidence that any of the fourAustralian citizens living in Israel whose identities were stolen wereimplicated.