French authorities are being accused of deliberately exposing soldiers to nuclear testing in the Sahara.
Researchers citing a confidential French military report say at least one test aimed to study the physiological and psychological effects of nuclear arms on man.
Some troops say they were made ill by French tests dating back to the 1960s.
The BBC reports they say they were given insufficient protection from radioactive fallout during testing.
The French government has long denied any responsibility, but drew up a bill last year to compensate veterans for health problems that could be linked to the tests.
A total of 193 tests were also carried out in French Polynesia.
