NATO used "unknown substance" in bombing of Serbia - daily

NATO used "unknown substance" in bombing of Serbia - daily

This report, quoted by the daily Vecernje Novosti, abounds in details related to the actions of NATO's aviation.

One of the documents noted that on April 8 and 9, 1999, NATO planes dispersed yellow powder of unknown origin over the entire Gornji Milanovac municipality, followed a few days later by the dispersal of small crystals that caused allergic reactions in people, the Belgrade-based newspaper said.

"I remember that people noticed fine crystals, the size of a grain of sugar, in their fields" a resident of the Donji Branetici village told investigators, and explained that people's eyes would tear up and skin itch in contact with the crystals.

"I heard that people in the village of Brusnica had similar problems. There was one woman who was covered in hives after collecting hay, when the crystals fell on her hands, legs and face," he added.

Samples of these crystals were sent to the military clinic (VMA) in Belgrade for chemical and toxicological tests. The first finding by this medical institution was that "no toxic substances from the group of chemical weapons have been found". This, however, was not all, as the conclusions stated, among other things: "Using infrared spectrometry, it has been determined that this is a synthetic hydrocarbon polymer of an unknown spectrum, i.e., - an unknown molecule," the daily is reporting.

Phytopathologists from the Fruit Research Institute in Cacak have identified traces of extremely unusual diseases in plants. Immediately after the bombing, suddenly and without any clear reason, a number of forests on Zlatibor and Tara mountains withered, and this happened in those areas where the unknown substance is also believed to have been used by NATO, the article said.