☰

M. Continuo

Israel accused of Hezbollah leader's killing


    TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran blamed its arch foe Israel on Wednesday for the killing of Hezbollah leader Imad Moughniyah in Damascus and condemned it as an act of "state terrorism", the official IRNA news agency said.

    Israel has denied any involvement in the killing, seen as amajor setback to Syrian and Iranian-backed Hezbollah thatfought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.

    Moughniyah, 45, was killed late on Tuesday. He had been ona list of foreigners Israel wanted to kill or apprehend and theUnited States had offered a $5 million (2.5 million pound)reward for his capture.

    "This measure is the result and another prominent exampleof organised state terrorism by the Zionist regime (Israel),"IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini assaying.

    Hezbollah, backed by Shi'ite Muslim Iran, also accusedIsrael of assassinating Moughniyah, who was head of theHezbollah security network during Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war,by planting a bomb in his car.

    Hosseini called on the international community to condemnthe killing and prevent Israel from "undertaking similarmeasures which are in direct contravention of internationalrules and regulations", IRNA said.

    He praised Moughniyah, saying his life would constitute "agolden page in the popular struggle against Zionist aggressorsand occupiers".

    (Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Alison Williams)