October 12, 2003	Sunday	Sha'aban 15, 1424

LOS ANGELES, Oct 11: Israel has modified US-made cruise missiles to carry nuclear warheads on submarines, giving it the ability to launch atomic weapons from land, air or sea, the Los Angeles Times said on Saturday.

Israel’s newly acquired submarine capability will complicate efforts to persuade Iran to abandon a suspected nuclear weapons programme, the Times said.

The missile modification was described to Times reporters by two US officials and confirmed by an Israeli official, the Times said.

“The Americans said they were disclosing the information to caution Israel’s enemies at a time of heightened tensions in the region and concern over Iran’s alleged ambitions,” the newspaper said. —AFP