Mr. Shevardnadze said the mines would not pose a major problem for refugees because most of the mines destroyed themselves within several days of being planted.

In general, mining opponents claim that the mine poses a significant and unacceptable risk to downstream fish stocks, and perhaps may even be inevitably an environmental disaster if built.

The federal government alleges that W.R. Grace knew of the serious health risks their mine posed but did little to protect the community.

Such a move would reduce the mine threat but it would not eliminate it because randomly planted mines would still pose a hazard.

Self-destruct mines do not pose the same threats that other mines do, but they are equally incapable of differentiating a soldier from a child.

What's more, abandoned mines could pose a danger to people who don't even venture forth into the great outdoors.

The mine, torpedo, submarine and aircraft posed new threats, each of which had to be countered, leading to tactical developments such as anti-submarine warfare and the use of dazzle camouflage.

He has rallied many villagers to his side, warning that the mine poses grave environmental dangers while offering little or no benefit.

Old mines pose two types of hazards: physical (like that mine shaft your friend fell into on the last page) and environmental (like the piles of tailings that leach toxins into water supplies).

A leaflet being given to soldiers in mine-sweeping units here says that although mines will pose a serious danger to troops in Bosnia, "the threat of direct and indirect fire is extremely unlikely."