Ecological catastrophe behind the aggression

Belgrade, April 13 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav government today approved a report on the effects on the environment of NATO's air strikes on the FR of Yugoslavia.

Evidence collected and analyses made by local institutes have shown that the NATO aggressors used ammunition with depleted uranium, among others, which is a crime against humanity punishable under the international law of war.

Analyses of individual samples showed contamination levels up to a thousand times above normal, the government said, noting that the use of ammunition with depleted uranium is in violation of the fundamental norms of international humanitarian and war law.

The competent bodies and services have investigated and marked contaminated areas, and removed radioactive materials from all accessible locations, significantly lowering the threat of contamination. People in high-risk areas have been medically examined, while complete decontamination is yet to be done and necessitates huge financial outlays.

However, no checks have been made at a hundred or so localities in Kosovo and Metohija, where the number of depleted uranium warheads dropped was ten times higher than elsewhere. This puts the environment and the local population, including the international force (KFOR) and the U.N. civilian mission (UNMIK), particularly at risk from radioactive contamination, the statement said.