The Canadian foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy, has ordered an investigation into allegations that Israeli secret service members are still using Canadian passports for covert operations.

Israel undertook to cease this practice last year, after Israeli agents were caught carrying false Canadian passports following the bungled assassination of a Palestinianian militant leader in Jordan Khalid Mish'al.

Israel has denied this latest allegation which was made on Canadian television by a Canadian Jew.

He said Mossad agents approached him twice recently to ask for help in obtaining Canadian passports.