An Army medical report dated March 4 1997 warning that exposure to the dust from exploded depleted uranium ammunition increased the risk of lung, lymph and brain cancers fuels the growing row over Balkans and Gulf "syndrome".

The MoD's position, restated by armed forces minister, John Spellar, in the Commons on Tuesday, is that the munitions when handled properly pose no risk with the only risk coming form the ingestion of large quantities of the dust causing kidney damage.

The document widely reported in the media is a summary of a longer report, "The use and hazards of depleted uranium", which states that exposure to the dust "must be reduced": "exposure to uranium dust has been shown to increase the risks of developing lung, lymph and brain cancers".

Veteran groups claim the document vindicates their claims over the effects of DU and that John Spellar had "unknowingly misled" the Commons. MoD sources say that the report , prepared by a "trainee", is "discredited".