France 'exposed troops to radiation'

France used its servicemen as "guinea pigs" to test the effects of radiation on humans, researchers claim.

Excerpts from a French defence ministry report, published in Le Parisien newspaper, say that on 25 April 1961 soldiers were sent on an exercise in Algeria aimed at studying "the physical and psychological effect of atomic weapons". About 300 took part, with patrols told to enter areas where atomic devices had been set off.

Researchers at the Armaments Observatory in Lyon said the report drew on secret military documents. Defence minister Hervé Morin denied knowledge of the report and said: "The dosages received were very low."

For decades some soldiers have claimed they were not protected properly during nuclear tests. Last month France's parliament approved a Bill to compensate them for health problems.