ATHENS, Jan 7 (AFP) - The head of Greece's conservative opposition demanded on Sunday that the country's troops serving in Kosovo be withdrawn if a health risk is linked to the use there of depleted-uranium (DU) munitions.

 "If the danger is confirmed, we must withdraw Greek troops from the region," said Costas Caramanlis, president of the New Democracy party.

 His comments came as Greek officials investigated possible links between a non-commissioned officer who contracted leukemia after serving in Bosnia in 1997-98, and the so-called Balkans Syndrome affecting people sent to the region.

 A number of soldiers and civilians from several European countries have been diagnosed with surprising and unusual illnesses, mostly various kinds of cancers, since returning from service in the Balkans.

 But no link has yet been established between the diseases and DU munitions, which were used in Bosnia and Yugoslavia, including Kosovo, by the United States.

 Nevertheless, seven Italian soldiers, five Belgians, two Dutch, two Spaniards, a Portuguese and a Czech have died from cancers since returning from the region.

 Four French soldiers and four Belgians have also contracted leukemia.

 The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Saturday it had found no post-war increase in leukemia cases among civilians in Kosovo. Uranium is used in DU munitions to make shells more dense so they can penetrate heavy armour. The material gives off relatively low levels of radiation, but can be dangerous if ingested, inhaled in dust or if it enters the body through cuts or wounds. As a result, center-left Greek parties have already called for the more than 1,600 Greek troops in Kosovo to be brought home. According to the defense ministry, 2,754 soldiers have served in the southern Yugoslav province, and 799 in Bosnia as part of peacekeeping forces led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

 Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos has said that past analyses indicate the soldiers were not at risk, but that a team of soldiers and scientists would conduct new tests in Kosovo next week. For now, there was no question of withdrawing Greek troops, Tsohatzopoulos stressed.

 "We did not go there to have fun, but with concrete reasons and a mission to accomplish," he said.