Reports that Israel used depleted uranium (DU) munitions in the war in Lebanon this summer hold no water according to UN experts who found no evidence to support those claims.

“The samples taken by the UNEP scientists show no evidence of penetrators or metal made of DU or other radioactive material,” UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said in a statement in Nairobi Monday. “In addition, no DU shrapnel, or other radioactive residue was found. The analysis of all smear samples taken shows no DU, nor enriched uranium nor higher than natural uranium content in the samples.”

The UNEP statement said a sub-team of inspectors looking specifically at the DU issue had visited 32 sites south and north of the Litani river. “Following strict field procedures, a range of smear, dust and soil samples were taken. The samples were analyzed in October-November at an internationally-recognized laboratory in Switzerland,” it said.

Source: http://vitalperspective.typepad.com/vital_perspective_clarity/2006/11/un_determines_t.html

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR