KUWAIT: The medical testing committee discovered 42 uniformed men from the interior and defense ministries as well as the Kuwait National Guard are infected with AIDS, a local daily reported yesterday quoting sources familiar with the test results.

The joint committee tests all uniformed men in these three bodies periodically, Al-Qabas reported quoting the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. After some of them collapsed during heavy training, they were tested, as their temperatures were high. They were isolated and further tests revealed they have AIDS.

The sources said seven personnel in the Kuwait National Guard, 21 in the army and 14 in the interior ministry have AIDS, as testing continues in coordination with the health ministry according to strictly confidential procedures, and those infected were isolated in a special ward.

The sources lauded the Kuwait National Guard's decision to send the infected guardsmen into medical retirement - two have been retired while the other five are waiting for completion of the administrative and legal process.

They said the joint committee that includes medical specialists from the military and health ministry will start comprehensive tests of uniformed men to make sure they are free of hepatitis, and those found infected will be sent into retirement immediately.