GENEVA (AP) - Several countries pressed the World Health Organization on Monday to urgently determine whether depleted uranium used in NATO ammunition in the Persian Gulf and Balkans conflicts could have made soldiers and civilians sick.

At the annual World Health Assembly, the first gathering of health ministers since the use of the munitions sparked a health scare across Europe earlier this year, Iraq said it has new evidence that a recent increase in cancers and birth defects among its people is linked to the weapons.

Preliminary studies have failed to show a link, but countries are now turning to the WHO to conduct definitive research. Part of the problem is that many of the studies examined uranium mine or power plant workers, not soldiers and civilians in a war.

Urging the WHO to step up its involvement and settle the issue, France, Switzerland and Norway promised donations to help finance more relevant studies.

``We have taken due note of the recent studies which have concluded that, based on evidence currently available, no link can be identified, but we want to make sure that full clarity be obtained and investigated,'' the Norwegian delegate said, promising $100,000 toward the research.

But the American delegation urged that assessments of the levels of radiation released by the munitions be completed before deciding whether health studies are warranted.

U.S. aircraft used munitions containing depleted uranium, a slightly radioactive heavy metal, during the 78-day air campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999, as well as in Bosnia in 1994 and 1995. The munitions, favored because they have the rare ability to pierce tanks, were also used during the 1991 Gulf War.

Concerns arose in several European countries earlier this year when Italy started studying the illnesses of 30 veterans of Balkans peacekeeping missions. Seven of the veterans died of cancer, including five from leukemia. Scores of other countries subsequently announced they would also begin screening their troops.

The 19-member NATO alliance has repeatedly denied the ammunition could have triggered cancer in soldiers. A NATO committee which acts as a clearinghouse about possible health risks has said no evidence has yet been found of a link between depleted uranium munitions and any increase in illness.

In addition, most independent medical experts say it is highly unlikely the low dose of depleted uranium dust created by the bombings could have made people sick.

However, Iraqi Health Minister Dr. Omeed Mubarak told the gathering Iraq had new evidence that an increase in cancer and birth defects was linked to the weapons.

``In Iraq, the incidence of cancers has increased. We have also noted genetic deformations and diseases which did not exist in Iraq previously,'' Mubarak told his counterparts at the assembly. ``Our scientists have detected the presence of uranium in the bodies of those who were exposed.''

At a news conference after the meeting, Mubarak said that in December, Iraqi scientists found traces of depleted uranium in the urine, blood and semen of Iraqis.

``We detected so many cases, I don't know exactly how many, but it was many of them,'' Mubarak said.

``That's why we are now asking WHO to cooperate with us, to examine these samples with us. We are not afraid of having any scientific discussion provided it is free from dirty political tricks,'' Mubarak said.

An Iraqi researcher, Dr. Mona Kammas, asserted recent Iraqi experiments exposing rats to depleted uranium have shown damage to the liver, kidney, immune system and DNA, as well as malformation of the sperm.

However, the findings have not been assessed by any independent experts.

Worst Health Organization April 2001 publication assessing existing evidence on health effects of depleted uranium,
http://www.who.int/environmental-information/radiation/depleted-uranium.htm