WORLD : S. Africa Nuclear Link Denied

JERUSALEM —  Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir today denied reports that Israel provided technology for a nuclear-capable missile that reportedly was test-fired in South Africa in July.

Shamir told Israel Radio there was “no truth” to the Wednesday night NBC television news report, which said Israel has been engaged in a partnership with South Africa to develop nuclear missile capability.

“We totally deny this story,” said Shamir’s media adviser, Avi Pazner. “There is no nuclear link or cooperation between Israel and South Africa.”

South Africa’s foreign minister, Roelof F. (Pik) Botha, said: “I bear no knowledge whatsoever of such cooperation.”

In Washington, however, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity that South Africa has test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile that could carry nuclear warheads and was built with help from Israel.