U.S.-RP task force on waste proposed

U.S.-RP task force on waste proposed

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines has proposed a joint task force
with the United States to investigate whether former U.S. bases
in this country contain toxic waste, it was announced yesterday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon made the proposal
in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in
Vancouver, a statement issued here said.

It did not say what Albright's reaction was.

Leftist groups have frequently charged that many areas in
former U.S. bases are contaminated and have called on Manila to
press Washington to fund a clean-up.

The U.S. embassy has said the bases have been turned over to
the Philippines and the United States is no longer responsible
for them.