France wants Israeli explanation over passport in Hamas killing

France's government is "demanding explanations" from Israel over the use of a French passport by the suspected killers of Hamas official, Mahmoud al-Mabhuh. France, Britain, Ireland and Germany say that passports used by the assassins were fake.

Passports linked to the assassination of Mamud al-Mabuh Reuters

"We are demanding explanations from the Israeli embassy in France of the circumstances of the use of a false French passport in the killing of a Hamas member in Dubai," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters.

Diplomatic tensions have mounted over the killing. Al-Mabhuh was a leader of Hams which rules the Gaza Strip,

"Elements in our possession led us to the conclusion that the passport in question was a fake," Valero said. "We are in regular contact with the authorities in Dubai on the progress of the investigation."

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday there was no evidence to suggest the Jewish state's spies were responsible.

Britain and Ireland also called in Israel's envoys Thursday over the use of fake passports and Austria is investigating whether Austrian telephones were used to plan the killing.