TOBACCO INDUSTRY DENOUNCED

The chief of the World Health Organization accused the tobacco
industry Tuesday of targeting children to create a new generation of
smokers destined for premature death. WHO Director General Dr. Gro
Harlem Brundtland warned that there would be a global explosion in
tobacco use without international efforts to ban or limit advertising,
raise tobacco taxes and educate the young.

Between 3.5 million and 4 million people die each year from tobacco
use, Brundtland said. ``This will increase to 10 million in 25
years,'' she said.

Brundtland's comments came a day before the launch of World No-Tobacco
Day to highlight what she called a ``lifestyle attack'' by
multinational tobacco firms through global advertising.