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TITLE: Iranian Daily Calls for Trial of Those Using Depleted Uranium Weapons |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: IRNA |
DATE: January 7, 2001 |
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A morning daily Sunday criticized the western media for their silence regarding the use of depleted uranium (DU) by NATO. Although denied for several months, it has now become evident that NATO has used DU weapons in the Balkan War, 'Tehran Times' wrote in its editorial. DU has caused cancer in a number of people exposed to its radiation in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, it added. "A team from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) recommended last November that 112 sites identified by NATO as having been struck by U.S. jets during the 1998 allied air strikes against Yugoslavia be marked," it added. Blaming NATO for its failure to mark the sites targeted by U.S. jets, the article said that victims who were exposed during the war are suffering. "What is most unfortunate is that sites that have not been marked are now a death trap for the present inhabitants. The tragedy is that those exposed to radiation will transfer their condition to future generations," it commented. The editorial further stressed that as soon as something goes wrong in a Third World country, international organizations are suddenly alerted to find the guilty, and either send him to the gallows or put him behind bars under the label, 'war criminal'. "Is the use of DU less criminal than genocide in Bosnia, Kosovo or Chile? Is the use of DU ammunition not an instance of war crime?" the daily asked calling for trial of those who used DU munitions in Kosovo. END |