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A possible link between Gulf war sickness and exposure to organophosphate insecticides has been admitted by Britain's ministry of defence, which last week apologised for having overlooked the connection. Armed forces minister Nicholas Soames promised that this "new factor" will be examined thoroughly in a research programme to be supervised by the Medical Research Council. The records of 750 veterans are being re-examined for specific symptoms.
The disclosure, in a letter to the Commons defence committee, has added a political dimension to the controversy. Suspicions of official incompetence will be pursued in a parliamentary debate next week.
The ministry now concedes...