BBC News | EUROPE | DU depletes Greek Kosovo troops

BBC News Online: World: Europe

Friday, 19 January, 2001, 17:02 GMT

DU depletes Greek Kosovo troops

The Greek army has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to join its peacekeeping force in Kosovo, after more than 200 soldiers asked to be sent home.

Greece's K-For men
1,500-strong
199 shortfall
220 requests to go home
232 requests for transfer at end of tour
200 applications withdrawn

The soldiers fear the effects of depleted uranium, and the army is offering high salaries to those prepared to replace them.

Another 200 officers and men who applied for a posting to Kosovo have withdrawn their applications.

The Greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos promised that any military personnel seeking an early return to Greece will be granted permission to do so.

KFOR soldiers measure radiation levels
Most of the Greek troops serving in Kosovo are conscripts and must stay in the field for six months.

So far, 220 soldiers stationed in Kosovo have applied for an early return, while another 232 have chosen to return to Greece at the end of their tour.

And out of a list of 375 officers and men who had originally put themselves down for the Kosovo posting, there are now only 175 left.

The Greek Government has come under strong criticism from oppositon parties for its handling of the matter.

We are interested in having members of the armed forces who feel they are safe
Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos

Meanwhile, Mr Tsochatzopoulos has accused the United States of being slow to warn Nato allies in Kosovo about its use of depleted uranium weapons in the former Yugoslavia.

The Greek Government assured soldiers on Thursday that all necessary action had been taken to protect their health.

According to officials, preliminary measurements by a team of nuclear scientists and army doctors sent to Kosovo earlier this week have failed to show any sign of contamination among the Greek troops.

Related to this story:
Nato seeks to calm DU fears (10 Jan 01 | Europe) Pressure grows for uranium tests (06 Jan 01 | Sci/Tech) Alarm over Nato uranium deaths (03 Jan 01 | Europe) Depleted uranium: the lingering poison (07 Jun 99 | World) Uranium weapon fears in Kosovo (12 Apr 99 | Europe) Q&A: Depleted uranium weapons (04 Jan 01 | Europe) UK considers DU testing (12 Jan 01 | UK)