Iraq blames Gulf war bombing for increase in child cancers

Iraqi health officials have claimed that depleted uranium weapons--used by the American and British military during the Gulf war--may be to blame for a substantial increase in the number of cancer cases in the southern part of the country. Depleted uranium--the byproduct of nuclear weapons and power generation--is used to make shells heavier and denser so that they can pierce tank armour more effectively.

“The use of depleted uranium has caused irreparable damage to …