French court studies Chernobyl case

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

French court studies Chernobyl case

PARIS, April 27 (Reuters) - France's High Court said on Thursday it 
would need at least a month to say if it will take up a case against 
ex-cabinet ministers accused of failing to warn the public against 
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. 

The case was brought by Yohann Van Waeyenberghe, 31, from the 
Champagne capital of Reims, who claims his thyroid cancer was 
caused by fallout in eastern France from the 1986 Chernobyl 
disaster, justice sources said. 

The complaint, the first such legal action in France, targetted then 
Interior Minister Charles Pasqua, Health Minister Michele Barzach 
and Environment Minister Alain Carignon. 

Van Waeyenberghe asked that the three politicians ``recognise 
their stupidity'' in not issuing explicit warnings of the dangers of 
fallout after a blast at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine. 

He said in his complaint that he would show his medical condition 
was a result of the disaster 

The High Court of Justice of the Republic exists solely to try 
serving or past government members for offences committed while 
in office. 

A radioactive cloud swept from Chernobyl across much of eastern 
and western Europe. Soviet officials originally tried to play down the 
seriousness of the disaster, which official data show killed 
thousands of people and affected millions more in Ukraine alone. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
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