The EU has officially condemned the use of forged European passports by assassins who killed a militant in Dubai.

The statement made no direct reference to Israel, however.

Diplomatic sources said the statement was intended to censure Israel over its alleged involvement in the killing of Palestinian Mahmoud al-Mabhouh last month.

It comes as Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin meets his Israeli counterpart in Brussels to discuss the use of fake Irish passports in the incident.