France reveals that 'Balkan syndrome' is affecting soldiers

The European Union promised to take action over Nato's use of depleted-uranium munitions in the Balkans yesterday, as Paris revealed that four French soldiers who served in the region were being treated for leukaemia.

Depleted-uranium munitions should be banned even if there was "minimal risk", said Romano Prodi, the European Commission president, amid mounting international pressure on Nato to investigate the "Balkan Syndrome".

Sweden, which holds the EU presidency, backed calls for a new medical working group on the subject and promised a discussion on the issue on 9 January. Bjorn von Sydow, the Swedish Defence Minister, said: "It is important that we act."

In Paris, Alain Richard, the Defence Minister, has asked for tests to determine whether the soldiers were exposed to anything that might have caused the illness. He backed calls for the alliance to discuss the issue next week.

Mr Prodi intervened after concern grew in Italy, where there have been 30 cases of serious illness involving soldiers who served in Bosnia and Kosovo, 12 of whom developed cancer. Six of the Italian servicemen are said to have died of leukaemia.

Mr Prodi said in a radio interview that he wanted "the truth to be ascertained, not only concerning the soldiers, but also for the people who lived near them, the population".

He said: "It is clear that if there is even a minimal risk, these arms must be abolished. And even if this risk was not there, I don't like the idea of using these particular weapons." Mr Prodi proposed "immediate contacts with the governments of Bosnia and Serbia to discuss pollution and the problems linked to depleted uranium".

Although the EU's jurisdiction is limited, it may have powers in environmental or health and safety areas under which it can act, particularly if some of the ammunition was made in the EU.

Greece said yesterday that it would screen more than 1,000 of its soldiers stationed in Kosovo for side-effects from exposure to depleted uranium ammunition.

So far, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Finland have said they will screen their Kosovo veterans, and Bulgaria is also to monitor the health of its small detachment in the province. In Britain, the Ministry of Defence said it would monitor developments closely. The Pentagon said it was aware of the worries being raised by some of America's allies.

Nato insists there is no evidence of a link between the munitions and cancer. Its spokesman, Mark Laity, said: "The Italians have, very properly and in response to public concern, launched a public inquiry, and Nato is assisting them in every way it can."

Nato has pledged to help with a request from Italy for more information on the use of depleted uranium.

There is also growing support for calls by Italy for a new mechanism to exchange scientific and medical information, and possible health issues, among the 19 Nato member countries. The Italians will press for such a mechanism at a political committee and at an informal meeting of Nato ambassadors on Tuesday.

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