Laos has asked independent bomb experts to study mysterious explosive objects that have turned up in many parts of the country, suspecting they may be chemical warheads dropped by the United States during the Indochina conflict, an official said.

Three explosive objects found in the central province of Savannakhet last month might contain a dangerous chemical substance, said Bounpone Sayasenh, director of the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Programme.

A dozen other such devices have been found across the country in recent years, he said.

Both Lao and foreign experts working to clear UXOs believe they are chemical bombs but US officials have denied it, Bounpone said.

"The US has never admitted it dropped chemical warheads during the war, so we need independent agencies to verify it," Bounpone said in an interview.

 Exposure to rain had caused chemicals and gas to leak from these shells, with a peculiar odour, he said. The objects have been fenced off to prevent local residents from making contact with them, he said.

Laotians continue to die due to accidental detonations of the large amount of unexploded ordnance dropped by US forces during the 1960s and 70s.

Experts estimate that some 30 per cent of the more than 2 million tons of explosives dropped over 18 provinces of the country failed to explode.

Laos estimates that more than 12,000 casualties have been caused by unexploded bombs since 1973. Last year saw 91 incidents, causing 145 casualties.

Laos established the UXO programme to clear the remaining unexploded bombs in 1996. It has removed and destroyed 766,195 pieces of ordnance since then.

The programme spends some US$4 million to $5 million (Bt147 million to Bt184 million) annually to clear unexploded ordnance in the nine most-seriously affected provinces.

Major donations to the programme come from the US, Japan and Luxembourg. The UXO programme requires an additional $2 million to upgrade and purchase equipment, however, Bounpone said.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Vientiane