ITALIAN SOLDIERS ON GUARD AT KFOR BASE IN KOSOVO TOWN OF PEC, 2001-01-05 (photo)

Italian KFOR soldiers on guard at Italian KFOR base in Kosovo town of Pec January 5, 2001. A number of countries, including Italy, have reported cases of cancer among young soldiers, triggering fears of a so-called "Balkan Syndrome." U.S. attack jets fired some 31,000 rounds of depleted uranium ammunition against Serbian targets during NATO's 1999 campaign to drive the Yugoslav army out of Kosovo. Some 10,000 rounds were also fired in neighbouring Bosnia in 1994-5. Portugal is also sending a team of experts to Kosovo to test for signs of uranium pollution near areas in which its troops have been serving. IM/WS