Argentine official denies nuclear use of computer

Argentina bought a US-made computerized nuclear control system for peaceful purposes, according to the chairman of the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission.

Vice-Admiral Carlos Castro Madero denied a report in the Washington Post that Argentina could use the system for nuclear weapons. Argentina has one nuclear power station in operation and four others scheduled for completion by the year 2000. A heavy-water plant is being built by a Swiss firm. The Washington Post said Argentina could use the computer control system to develop heavy-water technology, which can be a key to developing atomic bombs.