War in Lebanon leaves poisonous legacy

BEIRUT - More people will die as a result of pollution unleashed by Israel's bombing of the Lebanon than perished in the month-long war itself, the Lebanese Government believes.

Yacoub Sarraf, its Environment Minister, said that "deliberate" bombing of a fuel tank caused a fire that burned for 12 days, releasing a poisonous cloud over a third of the country.

The smoke contains high levels of lead and mercury, and would affect agriculture and the water supply. The same bombing released about 15 million litres of oil into the Mediterranean.

Israel ridiculed any suggestion of deliberate environmental damage, saying it it targeted only facilities relevant to Hizbollah.

- INDEPENDENT