Gas blamed for soldiers’ burns

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 10

Gas blamed for soldiers’ burns

NZPA-Reuter Vienna Iran flew 33 soldiers, said to be suffering from Iraqi chemical poisoning in the Gulf war, for emergency medical treatment in Europe yesterday. An Iran Air jumbo iet left eight of the men, with hideous skin bums and breathing problems, in Vienna and flew on to Frankfurt and London. Standing beside rows of stretchers strapped to the metal floor of the cavernous cargo plane, Iranian doctors said the men were victims of attacks by Iraqi planes last week-end. Dr Massoud Elahi, of a Teheran hospital, said the men were aged between 20 and 25. Thirteen would be treated in West Germany, four in Belgium, and eight in London.

Dr Elahi said they were

caught in an Iraqi attack in the al-Hawizah Marshes at the Tigris River, in the war zone, where Iraq repulsed a huge Iranian offensive this week. He said it was the first time he knew of the use of chemicals in the war for a year. Iraq denies using chemical weapons. In March last year 10 Iranians were taken to Vienna suffering from what Viennese doctors said was mustard gas and yellow rain poisoning. Four died but the others recovered. Professor Gerhard Freilinger, of Vienna’s General Hospital, who will supervise the treatment, said the skin lesions were more extreme than on the patients last year. He made a preliminary examination of the patients in the plane. Many were

groaning and coughing, their bodies covered by livid red burns. Many had dressings on their eyes and some repeated prayers to Allah. “There are first and second-degree bums on their faces and genitals. There are pulmonary problems and this will need intensive care,” Professor Freilinger said. “Last year our experience was that if we did not treat them immediately, finding out their needs at once, then we lose them.” Evidence received in advance from Teheran suggested that the men were victims of a different sort of poisoning than their compatriots last year, he said. One man, Mokhtar-e-As-kani, was one of the worst affected. Twisting his head in pain as he fought to fill his lungs, he whispered that a missile had landed three

metres from him. “It exploded. There was gas. It was a black colour,” he said. Three or four hours elapsed before he realised he was seriously affected. “My whole body is burning,” he said through burnt, swollen lips. The white Boeing 747. was escorted north from Teheran to the border with Turkey by three Iranian Phantom jet fighterbombers, a crew member said. Iraq, mounting daily aij* attacks on Iranian cities, has declared Iranian airspace a war zone and foreign airlines have suspended scheduled flights. The Iranian Ambassador, Mr Muhammad Kiyarashi, and members of his" staff met the plane and helped to load the eight taken off at Vienna into ambulances for the journey into the city.