In the Nation

Uranium bullets fired at controversial facility

MIAMI -- U.S. Marines mistakenly fired uranium bullets at a Navy facility in Puerto Rico that has been the subject of protests over maneuvers that killed a civilian and wounded four other people, U.S. officials said yesterday.

The Puerto Rican Independence Party, which has been leading protests against the U.S. Navy on the island of Vieques off Puerto Rico's east coast, alleged last week that the U.S. military had fired the prohibited rounds.

Two Marine Corps Harrier jets expended 263 rounds of bullets made of depleted uranium Feb. 19 during a training exercise at Vieques.