Subject: Yugoslav army denies DU caused deaths of three soldiers
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 7:40:20 PST
From: C-afp@... (AFP)
Organization: Copyright 2001 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet)
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BELGRADE, Jan 18 (AFP) - The Yugoslav army denied a report on
Thursday that three of its soldiers have died from leukemia caused
by depleted uranium (DU) munitions used during the 1999 NATO air war
in Kosovo, the official news agency Tanjug said.
General Momcilo Krgovic of the Yugoslav army health department
told the agency that "there were no such patients," suffering from
leukemia in the Belgrade military hospital, the only facility
authorized to deal with cancer-related diseases among army
personnel.
"None of 1,080 Yugoslav soldiers who served in (Kosovo) areas
hit by DU projectiles during the NATO bombing has so far been
afflicted by a disease caused by increased radioactivity," Krgovic
said.
The army would continue conducting health tests on its
personnel, he added.
On Wednesday, the Nedeljni Telegraf weekly reported that three
Yugoslav army soldiers who served in Kosovo during the bombings have
died from leukemia, while 10 more suffer from the illness.
Four soldiers are in a critical condition, the Telegraf said,
citing Belgrade military hospital sources.