Arab rage at Israel's killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Yassin quickly spilled into Iraq, signaling that the killing of the Hamas founder could undermine US policies and interests across the region, the Washington Times said in a report on Tuesday. 

Two demonstrations were held in Iraq against the US-led coalition on Monday and protestors chanted slogans in support of Yassin.

Moreover, Hamas has issued a statement demanding the United States take responsibility for the "crime" as many Arab press outlets said US-made missile launchers were used in the killing of Yassin.

Both US and Israeli officials have stressed that Washington had no role in the killing of Yassin, but the close political and military ties between the two countries almost will certainly make Americans a target for revenge, the report said.

The report said that an Islamist Web site published a statement on Monday, purporting to come from al Qaeda-linked group, vowing revenge on the United States and its allies over the assassination of Yassin.

As a result, Americans living and traveling throughout the Middle East region have been warned to step up security precautions amid fears that the killing of Yassin might spark anti-US violence.

The warnings asked US citizens residing in the Mideast region to avoid demonstrations and note reported threats to US interests by Hamas officials in the wake of Yassin's death.

Visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Monday that the decision to kill Yassin was taken by Israel alone and the United States was not informed in advance.

"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.

The 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 24, 2004)