Telegraph 10th January 2001

Uranium ammo fears grow after U-turn over tests

By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent and Ben Fenton in Washington

THE Government was forced into a humiliating climbdown yesterday as concern mounted over the effects of depleted uranium ammunition fired during the Gulf War and two conflicts in the Balkans.

John Spellar, Armed Forces minister, told the House of Commons that all soldiers who had served in the Balkans would be offered the opportunity to be screened. The MoD had previously refused to budge from its position that there was no risk to servicemen despite a wave of suspect deaths among Balkan veterans across Europe.

But defence sources said that it was still unclear whether the tests would be offered on demand or would only be available if an MoD consultant considered the serviceman should be tested for depleted uranium. Mr Spellar said the MoD intended "to identify an additional appropriate screening programme for our service personnel and civilians who have served in the Balkans".

Gulf war veterans who go through the MoD's medical assessment programme are only tested if a consultant deems it appropriate, regardless of their own concerns. Veterans' groups said the Government had not gone far enough. The National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association demanded that the tests be independent, available on demand and include Gulf war veterans.

Shaun Rusling, NGVFA chairman, said: "We are dismayed by this. The Armed Forces minister is simply trying to play down a very serious issue." The Conservatives welcomed the Government climbdown but asked why the MoD had suddenly changed its mind when no new evidence was available.

Mr Spellar said it was a response to press coverage of the scares across Europe in the wake of deaths from cancer among soldiers who had served in the Balkans. He stressed that all research suggested that there was no evidence linking depleted uranium to cancer.

He told MPs: "Handled in accordance with regulations, depleted uranium shells present no hazard to our forces. We have long recognised however that on the battlefield its debris might present a hazard from chemical toxicity."

Bruce George, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, which has demanded that ministers appear before it to explain their position, said it was vitally important that research was carried out quickly. He said: "If it is true that there is a link between depleted uranium and cancer then people are going to die. I don't think they are going to have too much time. They are going to have to come up with some swift research."

Despite the Government U-turn, Britain joined America at a meeting of alliance ambassadors yesterday in opposing an Italian call for a Nato moratorium on the use of depleted uranium ammunition. America warned its Nato allies 18 months ago of the risks from depleted uranium, the New York Times said yesterday. The "hazard awareness" report was sent to all Nato countries with troops in Kosovo, including Britain.

It said spent ammunition and other contaminated materials should not be touched and that anyone in contact with depleted uranium rounds or the interiors of vehicles hit by them should wear masks and cover exposed skin. The warning, dated July 1, 1999, also added that troops involved in more extensive clearing-up operations ought to undergo health checks afterwards.

The European Commission intervened in the growing dispute yesterday, launching its own inquiry into the health risks posed by depleted uranium ammunition in Kosovo and Bosnia.

A panel of scientific experts is to report to Brussels within a month on the possible dangers faced by the civilian population in the Balkans, as well as hundreds of European Union staff and contract workers engaged in the economic reconstruction.

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