Stay on depleted uranium arms proposed

The European Parliament has proposed a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons such as those used in the Kosovo conflict.

The weapons, while classified as conventional munitions, carry low-level radiation and have increased piercing power.

During the Kosovo conflict more than 30,000 rounds of depleted uranium munitions were fired by NATO forces.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday, the Leinster MEP, Ms Nuala Ahern, said the irony was that NATO's action in Kosovo had been defined as a humanitarian initiative "but had resulted in the area being peppered with radiation".

The Dublin Labour MEP, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, said the Government should quickly establish if the proposed European Rapid Reaction Force was to be equipped with depleted uranium weapons. If this was the case, he said Ireland should withdraw from the force.

The Leinster MEP, Mr Jim Fitzsimons, said the evidence pointed to massive increases in cases of cancer where bombings took place during the Balkans War.

Mr Fitzsimons also expressed concern that depleted uranium weapons were tested in the Irish Sea by British defence forces based at the Solway Firth.

Yesterday's resolution, passed by the Parliament, called on member-states which are also NATO members to propose a moratorium on the use of such weapons as a precautionary principle.

It is, however, not a binding resolution.

In a statement, the UN Environment Programme said laboratory tests were being undertaken to determine lingering risks to human health. The results will be available in March.