Officials are investigating claims that two further British passports may have been linked to the assassination of a high-ranking Hamas official in a Dubai hotel.
The disclosure that eight rather than six Britons had been caught up in the alleged Israeli hit came from the Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant, who told MPs that authorities in the United Arab Emirates had sent details of "at least" two more passports which may be linked to the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
He spoke after EU foreign ministers voiced their outrage at the murder of the Hamas armourer and the use of stolen European identities. "The killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai raises issues which are profoundly disturbing," the EU ministers said in a joint statement drawn up during talks in Brussels. "We strongly condemn the use of fraudulent EU member states’ passports and credit cards acquired through the theft of EU citizens’ identities."
"His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai has passed away. He was 62 years old."
The above statement from the Ministry of Presidential Affairs confirmed that the ruler of Dubai died earlier this morning in Australia. The statement added that "the UAE had lost a historical leader from its leaders who dedicated his life to building the country, and strove to do his best for its people."
The official mourning period will last for 40 days, during which all UAE flags will fly at half mast. Ministries and government organisations will be closed for seven days, starting Wednesday.
Local stock markets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai shed 1.8% and 3.3%, respectively, in early trading.
The Dubai Shopping Festival, the largest business & cultural event in Dubai's calendar, has been postponed until further notice, in a statement by CEO Saeed Al Nabouda.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been named the new ruler of Dubai, in an accession process that officials described as being automatic.
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