Toxic gas victims denied again

Court concedes leak caused harm but rejects claim for compensation

Chinese victims of a toxic leak caused by abandoned World War II weapons vowed on Sunday to continue to fight for compensation and an apology from the Japanese government, even though their second attempt to take legal action in the case has been rejected by Tokyo judges.

One man died and 43 other people were poisoned on Aug 4, 2003, when five canisters of Japanese mustard gas were unearthed at a construction site in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province.