Thursday January 4 5:51 AM ET
EU's Prodi Wants Truth on 'Balkan Syndrome'

ROME (Reuters) - European Commission President Romano Prodi said Thursday he wanted light to be shed on claims linking depleted uranium from spent NATO ammunition to deaths or illnesses among alliance soldiers who served in the Balkans.

In an interview with Italian state radio RAI, Prodi said arms coated with depleted uranium should not be used if there was even the slightest risk for soldiers or for civilians.

``I want the truth to be ascertained, not only concerning the soldiers, but also for the people who lived near them, the population,'' Prodi told RAI.

``It is clear that if there is even a minimal risk, these arms must be abolished. And even if this risk was not there, I don't like the idea of using these particular weapons,'' he said.

The so-called ``Balkan syndrome'' has come under the spotlight over the past few days following claims that six Italian soldiers who served in the former Yugoslavia developed leukemia and died after exposure to the ammunition.

Italy asked NATO Wednesday to investigate the cases. Similar requests also came from Portugal and Belgium, which have also reported deaths among soldiers who served in the Balkans. Five soldiers have died in Belgium and one in Portugal.

Prodi said he was not only concerned about the ``Balkan syndrome'' but also about the environmental damage caused by the wars in Bosnia and Yugoslavia.

``As Commission president, I propose starting immediate contacts with the governments of Bosnia and Serbia to discuss pollution and the problems linked to depleted uranium,'' he told the radio.

NATO sources said Wednesday the North Atlantic Council and NATO's political committee would discuss the issue next week.