Israel denies killing Hamas scientist in Malaysia

JERUSALEM, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman dismissed on Sunday allegations by Hamas that Israel's Mossad spy agency assassinated a Palestinian scientist in Malaysia.

Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer, was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, the local police said.

Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization that runs the the Gaza Strip, identified al-Batsh as one of its members. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh suggested that Israel was behind the killing, saying the Mossad had perpetrated past attempts to assassinate Palestinian engineers, and the killing of Batsh "follows this sequence."

Lieberman said he supposes Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute.

"We heard about it in the news. The terrorist organizations blame every assassination on Israel; we're used to that," Lieberman told Israel Radio.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters on Saturday that al-Batsh was "an expert in electrical engineering and rocket," according to the New Straits Times.

"His killing could have some links with foreign intelligence agencies or he may also be considered a liability to nations unfriendly to Palestine," Zahid said, adding that if necessary, Malaysian police may also seek the help of Interpol.

The police said the investigation is ongoing. Enditem