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Last update - 22:00 13/02/2008
Ex-Mossad chief: Mughniyah killing 'great achievement for free world'
PMO denies Israeli role in Imad Mughniyah's death
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: Hezbollah, Hamas, Israel 

The United States on Wednesday applauded the killing of Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Imad Mughniyah in a car bomb in Damascus, and called him a cold-blooded murderer responsible for many deaths.

"The world is a better place without this man in it. He was a cold-blooded killer, a mass murderer and a terrorist responsible for countless innocent lives lost," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "One way or another he was brought to justice."

McCormack said he did not know who was responsible for the killing of Mughniyah, who was on the U.S. most-wanted list for attacks on Israeli and Western targets.
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Hezbollah accused Israel of assassinating Mughniyah but Israel denied involvement in Tuesday's car bomb attack.

"You can just go down the list of other nationalities that were affected by his acts of terror ... The list goes on and on and on," McCormack said.

Earlier Wednesday, the Prime Minister's Office denied any Israeli role in Mughniyah's assassination.

"Israel rejects the attempt by terror groups to attribute to it any involvement in this incident," said the PMO in a statement. "We have nothing further to add."

Former Mossad chief Danny Yatom on Wednesday welcomed Mughniyah's death, calling it "a great achievement for the free world in its fight on terror."

"Mughniyah was one of the most dangerous and cruel terrorists of all time," said the Labor MK. "There are numerous intelligence agencies and countries that have been pursuing him, and the one that was successful in reaching him [has proven itself] - to have a high intelligence and operational capability."

Yatom called Mughniyah's death a serious blow to Hezbollah, both in terms of morale and in terms of its operational capabilities, saying the assassination could only have been made possible by penetrating deep into the organization.

"Whoever can take him out can take out anyone in Hezbollah," he said. "It will take Hezbollah a long time to find an heir."

"Mughniyah was responsible for the deaths of many Jews, Israelis, Americans, and was solely and directly responsible for Hezbollah attacks abroad, through close cooperation with Iran," he said.

Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, formerly a senior intelligence officer, also hailed the killing of the top Hezbollah commander. "I, of course, do not know who carried out the assassination of Imad, but he should be blessed," he said.

Hamas slammed the assassination. "We condemn this crime and we emphasize the Muslim nation must rise up to confront the Zionist devil which is back by the Americans," said a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Samir Abu Zuhri.

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      1.   Hizbullah`s second in command in Syria, Imad Mughniyeh, was kille 14:01  |  Jean Van Daem 13/02/08
      2.   In the cycle of violence, nobody evert gets the last word 14:11  |  Natallie Durson 13/02/08
      3.   Mossad most probably did it 14:19  |  Minda 13/02/08
      4.   Oh Natalie 14:49  |  Educator 13/02/08
      5.   #2; Of course you have no concern for the people he murdered. 14:53  |  Cynic 13/02/08
      6.   Knee Jerk Reactions 15:09  |  steve 13/02/08
      7.   #2 Duh!!rson`s Predictable BS 15:10  |  Bill Foonman 13/02/08
      8.   durson 15:31  |  jeff 13/02/08
      9.   A war against all Israelis 15:33  |  It is time 13/02/08
      10.   Hamas should keep it`s mouth shut and look 15:37  |  Nechama 13/02/08
      11.   the latest tactical win for those who executed 15:40  |  bozhidar balkas 13/02/08
      12.   Natallie Tiresome 15:53  |  Dani Reiss 13/02/08
      13.   everyone- everyone- is expendible 16:31  |  Avrum 13/02/08
      14.   Hi Natalie 16:36  |  Aviv 13/02/08
      15.   NATALIE DURSON 16:45  |  CHARLES 13/02/08
      16.   This proves Israel has been bombing all along 16:54  |  Absolute Truth 13/02/08
      17.   Natalie 16:57  |  bytheway 13/02/08
      18.   nuttallie #2 the celebration in america is bigger than the one 17:01  |  terrornator 13/02/08
      19.   don`t be so stupid minda,the cia is just as likely responsible 17:07  |  terrornator 13/02/08
      20.   Jewish Terrorism 17:30  |  American 13/02/08
      21.   NATALIE DURSON 17:32  |  JEFF 13/02/08
      22.   Jean Van Daem - Yes, and Israel too will die by the sword 17:33  |  MAN 13/02/08
      23.   G-D Bless Soul Of Imad Mughniyah 17:34  |  Satmar Hasid 13/02/08
      24.   Natilie, you always seem to want the last word 17:44  |  people on talkback 13/02/08
      25.   Minda #3 17:51  |  Angus 13/02/08
      26.   To Natalie 17:53  |  Avi 13/02/08
      27.   What free world are you talking about you idiot 17:53  |  US person 13/02/08
      28.   To Aviv 18:07  |  Knott Bushman 13/02/08
      29.   Yatom - shut up 18:35  |  ussishkin 13/02/08
      30.   belief 18:38  |  Ethan 13/02/08
      31.   absolutely believe the PMO that he had nothing to do with it 18:43  |  chaim 13/02/08
      32.   Fast forward a few years. Israeli leaders brag about killing him 18:59  |  Pablo B 13/02/08
      33.   US & Israel: The end justifies the means 19:16  |  Usama 13/02/08
      34.   Hezbollah always blames Israel. What`s new??? 19:23  |  Josh 13/02/08
      35.   Thank You Assad 19:26  |  Yosemite 13/02/08
      36.   A new head just grows. 19:30  |  US Observer 13/02/08
      37.   Natalie 19:41  |  michael 13/02/08
      38.   I hope Mossad did it...but we will never know 19:42  |  R 13/02/08
      39.   Minda & the Mossad 19:42  |  The Judge 13/02/08
      40.   Israeli denies role in Imad Mughniyah`s death 19:47  |  Steve 13/02/08
      41.   IMAD 19:50  |  The Teacher/Instruct 13/02/08
      42.   #9 19:52  |  Jane 13/02/08
      43.   Natalie #2 20:00  |  Michael 13/02/08
      44.   "killing is a great achievement" 20:13  |  anangryjew 13/02/08
      45.   Make My DAY! 20:19  |  Moshe 13/02/08
      46.   Israeli denies role in Imad Mughniyah`s death 20:25  |  Steve 13/02/08
      47.   Mughniyah is Swahili for Bush 20:26  |  tadchase 13/02/08
      48.   AMIA and Israel Embassy at Buenos Aires 20:27  |  Noemi 13/02/08
      49.   Why Deny 20:38  |  Todd 13/02/08
      50.   #2, what a ridiculous thing to focus on 20:42  |  Wendy in Chicago 13/02/08
      51.   Minda @3 21:01  |  GABE1 13/02/08
      52.   #3 Mindas Loud cry for terrorist tell you a lot 21:07  |  TOMY 13/02/08
      53.   Not Mossad, the Lebanese whacked him! 21:07  |  Scientist 13/02/08
      54.   Imad 21:09  |  Mr.Smith 13/02/08
      55.   Educator,Correction, Nutallies ignorance 21:09  |  TOMY 13/02/08
      56.   American Values? 21:09  |  Milo 13/02/08
      57.   Natalie D. You cannot be an American 21:15  |  David Israel 13/02/08
      58.   May be not DEAD 21:27  |  najour 13/02/08
      59.   Nobody care 21:29  |  Pedro 13/02/08
      60.   Mughniyeah got what he deserved 21:31  |  Natalie Durson 13/02/08
      61.   Rejoice. Killer of US Marines is dead. 21:33  |  leo 13/02/08
      62.   Response to Milo: 21:45  |  BKAE...1134 NYC 13/02/08
      63.   Work Accident 21:50  |  Ricardo 13/02/08
      64.   to Knot Bushman #18 22:41  |  Aviv 13/02/08
      65.   Since when do you BELIEVE Hezbolla and Syria? Mughniyah is alive. 22:45  |  Maronite 13/02/08
      66.   #2, "in the cycle of violence no one ever gets the last word" 23:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/02/08
      67.   May his soul be burning in hell 23:07  |  Mike 13/02/08
      68.   INSIDE JOB! 23:07  |  The Teacher/Instruct 13/02/08
      69.   Crappily Durson 23:28  |  akiva (zionist) 13/02/08
      70.   mindless Minda 23:31  |  akiva (zionist) 13/02/08
      71.   bozhidar balkas, check under your bed tonight! 23:33  |  akiva (zionist)