Palestinian scholar killed in Malaysia
The family of a Palestinian professor and Hamas member yesterday accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of killing him on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian police said Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, 35, was killed in a drive-by motorcycle shooting as he headed on foot to take part in dawn Muslim prayers on Saturday.
In a statement from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, his family said: "We accuse the Mossad of being behind the assassination."
The Islamist Palestinian movement said Batsh, a research scientist specialising in energy issues, was one of its members.
Hamas did not accuse Israel of killing him but called Batsh a "martyr".
Contacted by AFP, an Israeli official refused to comment.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said one of two suspects on a high-powered motorcycle "fired 10 shots, four of which hit the lecturer. He died on the spot."
The Mossad is believed to have assassinated Palestinian militants and scientists in the past, but has never confirmed such operations.
The killing came as on Friday four more Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces during protests. The latest deaths brought to 38 the toll of those killed by Israeli forces since March 30.
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