Britain to screen Gulf War vets

The British government has said it will offer health checks for exposure to depleted uranium to its troops who served in the Gulf War.

It has already announced tests for troops who served in the Balkans, where uranium-tipped munitions were used in the conflicts in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Kosovo.

Concern about the safety of the metal-piercing munitions has risen since Italy demanded a NATO investigation after seven of its former peacekeepers died from leukaemia.

Australia is the latest country to announce plans to screen its soldiers and Russia has asked to be kept fully informed by NATO. The American aand British governments say there is no scientific proof that depleted uranium is linked to cancers and other illnesses.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service