News In Brief

Middle East seen as unable to develop nuclear arms soon

Most Islamic countries in the Middle East will be unable to develop nuclear weapons independently before the end of the century, congressional analysts said Sunday.

The study, by the congressional Office of Technology on transfer of technology to six Gulf states, also concluded the Mideast will remain an important market for technology trade, ''but the explosive growth of years past will probably not be repeated.'' Industrialized countries expanded their technology exports to the Middle East from $5.5 billion in 1970 to about $100 billion in 1982.