IRANIAN SOLDIERS SEARCH FOR MINES LEFT FROM THE 1980-88 WAR WITH IRAQ, 2001-01-21 (photo)

Iranian soldiers search for mines, January 21, 2001, left over from the 1980-1988 war with Iraq using a metal detector and spike but no protective clothing. Iran and Iraq declared a cease-fire, but have not signed a formal peace treaty, therefore, Iran does not have access to maps of the minefields laid by retreating Iraqi forces. Army officials estimate that of 1,800,000 hectares of Iran's border with Iraq which was mined, 700,000 hectares have been cleared with no international assistance. In the twelve years since the end of the war, 108 soldiers have been killed and over 480 wounded removing mines from lands used for grazing livestock and agriculture. CJF/WS