Jan 20, 2009, 3:49 PM

Israel accused of using depleted uranium in Gaza

Arab nations on Monday accused Israel of blasting Gaza with ammunition containing depleted uranium and urged the UN nuclear watchdog to probe reports that traces of it had been found in victims of the shelling, AP reported.

In a letter on behalf of Arab ambassadors in Vienna, Prince Mansour Al-Saoud, the Saudi ambassador, expressed "our deep concern regarding the information ... that traces of depleted uranium have been found in Palestinian victims."

The letter urgently requested IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei to "carry out a radiological and physical assessment in order to verify the presence of depleted uranium in the weaponry used by Israel ... in the Gaza Strip."

Officials at the Israeli mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency said they were in no position to comment without having seen the letter.

PA/PA

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MNA

News ID 31853