WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary William Cohen conceded Tuesday armored vehicles struck by depleted uranium rounds in the Balkans should have been removed from the field.

 Cohen said, however, the United States did provide "adequate warning" of the hazards they posed to its NATO allies.

 Responding to a furor in Europe over a rash of leukemia cases among former Balkans peacekeepers, Cohen insisted there is no scientific link between the reported illnesses and depleted uranium.

 "I suppose if there were any deficiencies to be found it would be in the failure to pick up fragments of destroyed vehicles and tanks in which the depleted uranium was used," he said at a news conference.

 "But beyond that I think adequate warning was given and there was very low risk of coming into contact with this, provided sufficient protection is taken," he said.

 In June 1999, the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned peacekeeping troops moving into Kosovo to avoid using damaged armored vehicles because of possible health risks from depleted uranium anti-tank rounds, a defense official told AFP.

 The warning, sent to the US commander in Europe and reportedly relayed to the allies, said if troops needed to enter damaged vehicles, they should use respiratory protection and cover exposed skin.