Spanish soldiers with cancer after NATO service in Balkans

Concerns about the effects of NATO weapons containing depleted uranium used in the Balkans grew this week as countries all over Europe were investigating reports of illnesses among troops. A member of a Spanish relief organisation likewise fell ill with leukemia after spending time in the region. So far only two cancer cases among Spanish soldiers have been revealed. The patients have died, the reports said.

Spain began conducting tests several weeks ago among its 32,000 soldiers who have served in the Kosovo. Results of the first 5,000 tests were negative. Defence Minister Federico Trillo said Spanish soldiers in the Balkans were only deployed in areas where NATO did not use uranium.

Officials in Washington said they had no evidence that munitions containing depleted uranium were damaging to the health. The cases have prompted governments across Europe to call for an investigation into the use of depleted uranium in cannon shells.

In March, NATO had admitted that over 31,000 armour-piercing shells using depleted uranium had been fired in the Kosovo campaign. The United States was the only ally to use this type of weapon in the 78-day conflict in 1999 against the forces of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

(la/dpa)