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A surveillance camera grab showing Mahmoud Al Mabhouh (circled) arriving at the Al Bustan hotel. The victim was closely followed by the team of assassins before they pounced on him in his hotel room, police said. Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: Israel will send a replacement Mossad representative to London, Israeli news website Ynet has reported.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced on Tuesday that a diplomat would be expelled over the use of forged passports in the murder of Hamas operative Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai.

While Miliband did not name the diplomat, the Daily Telegraph reported that it was the Mossad representative to London.

Senior Israeli officials told Ynet that Britain’s decision was surprising, as they cooperated with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) investigation ordered by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

“It’s unclear how Britain, which is a party to fight against terror alongside Israel, took such hurtful step, which undermines the prolific cooperation between the two states on this matter,” one official was quoted as saying.

Mahmoud Al Mabhouh was murdered in a Dubai hotel room on January 19.

Dubai

Police has since released a list of 26 suspects, who used forged passports from Britain, Australia, France, Germany and Ireland.