Prague, 4 January: Helicopter pilot Michal Martinak died last year shortly after returning from a tour of duty in Bosnia and may have been a victim of what is being called "Balkans syndrome", writes Mlada fronta Dnes today.

  A number of countries whose troops have taken part in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans have expressed alarm over "Balkans syndrome", to which the deaths of cancer and leukemia of several soldiers have been attributed. It is thought that the use of depleted uranium in weapons may be the cause of the deaths.

  Helicopter commander Jaromir Dolezal told the daily that Martinak had done one tour of duty in Bosnia and was due to return when a medical check-up revealed that his blood was defective. He had passed a similar check-up before his first mission.

  The head of the army's health service Gen Jan Petras expressed his surprise when the daily informed him about the "syndrome" and said he would set up a team to investigate Martinak's death, the paper says.

  "We must look into the question of what can harm soldiers in the Balkans - whether it is the radioactive residue of missiles made of depleted uranium or the product of different chemicals," Petras told the daily.

  Docekal welcomed the fact that Petras was beginning an investigation. "It is hard to say whether Martinak's end is connected with his service in Bosnia, but after the experience of (Czechoslovak soldiers) who fought in the Gulf, I appreciate the general's step," he told the daily.

  Petras said that the radioactive effects of depleted uranium were insignificant and need not cause health problems, adding that Czech soldiers are thoroughly examined before and after missions. The post-service check-ups are intended to reveal the influence of any toxins which are the product of conflict situations.

  Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0719 GMT 4 Jan 01

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