Malaysia releases images of suspects in Palestinian academic assassination case

Malaysian police released Monday computer-generated images of two men suspected of assassinating a Palestinian lecturer outside his complex in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.

Kuala Lumpur police released photofits of the two suspects, who were seen waiting in the area where Batsh lived before he was shot dead.

The pictures show two light-skinned bearded men, one of whom was wearing glasses and a white and black helmet.

Police also released images of two motorcycles, a BMW and a Kawasaki, one of which was believed to have been ridden by the suspects.

Two motorcyclists fired ten rounds at Fadi al-Batsh during the early hours of Saturday morning as he was on his way to a nearby mosque for dawn prayers. 

National police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the suspects wore dark-coloured jackets, were carrying bags and riding a "high-powered motorcycle".

Fourteen bullets were fired at Batsh during the attack and he suffered "multiple injuries, including on the head and body", the police chief told reporters. The bullets had been sent for analysis, he added. He was killed instantly on the spot.

Batsh's family accused the Israeli's foreign secret service agency Mossad of carrying out the hit.

They called on Malaysian authorities to undergo an urgent investigation to expose those responsible for the killing before the suspects had chance to flee the country.

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Palestinian group Hamas have described Batsh as a "loyal member" and accused Israel of being behind the brazen killing. The Gaza-based movement - whose leaders are believed to have been regular targets of Israeli agents - have vowed revenge.

Malaysia's deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government was looking into the possibility of the involvement of "foreign agents" in his killing.

Israel's defence minister dismissed on Sunday suggestions that the Mossad spy agency assassinated him.

Avigdor Lieberman said it was likely that Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute, suggesting it was a "settling of accounts".

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The past few weeks have seen tensions rise between Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel.

Mass protests erupted on 30 March - dubbed "Great Return March" - which have centred on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, after they were expelled following the 1948 creation of Israel.

The protests along the Gaza border quickly turned deadly, with Israeli forces responding with live ammunition and the death toll hitting 40. At least 1,600 protesters have been wounded by gunfire or needed treatment for tear gas inhalation in the weeks of protests.