Eighth Italian soldier dies in DU scare

Italy today raised the death toll it links to possible exposure to depleted uranium ammunition from seven to eight.

Italy today raised the death toll it links to possible exposure to depleted uranium ammunition from seven to eight.

Briefing parliament, Defence Minister Sergio Mattarella said the illnesses of 31 Italian soldiers, including the eight who died, are under investigation.

Most served in Bosnia, where NATO warplanes used depleted uranium ammunition in 1994 and 1995. Others were in Kosovo, where NATO used the armor-piercing rounds in 1999.

The eighth veteran is Pasquale Cinelli, a 41-year-old paramilitary police officer who died on November 19 of stomach cancer, said Defence Ministry spokesman Col Paolo Bressan.

Bressan said Cinelli did several tours of peacekeeping duty in Bosnia between 1996 and last January. He also served in Albania from April to August of 1997.

Governments across Europe have been under pressure ever since Italy announced its investigations and triggered a wave of fear among veterans across the continent.

NATO and the United States insist there is no evidence linking depleted uranium to cancer or other ailments suffered by veterans.