The decision to kill Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin was taken by Israel alone and the United States was not informed in advance, said visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Washington Monday.  

"I would like all of you to know that this decision was taken by the Israeli cabinet itself, and it was not coordinated with the American administration, like the Hamas claimed this morning," Shalom said.

"We are taking our decisions by our own, by ourselves and it was a decision that was taken as a self-defense against these terrorist organizations," Shalom added.

Shalom accused Yassin of being responsible for "hundreds of attacks against Israel that caused hundreds of casualties."

Shalom said the killing of Yassin was "to send a clear message to all leaders of the extremist organizations that if they will continue to plan, to carry out more attacks against Israel, they can not get immunity anymore, because they do not deserve immunity."

Shalom arrived here Monday morning and held talks with US Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Israeli missile strike killed Hamas founder Sheik Yassin with seven other people early Monday as he left a mosque in the Gaza Strip. The killing has sparked violent demonstrations throughout Gaza and Hamas has vowed to revenge.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2004)