US and Czech Republic Agree on Radar Station

The Czech Republic has agreed to the establishment of a US missile defence system on Czech soil.

The system, which would detect missiles from Iran heading toward Europe and the US, has been the cause of tension between the two countries, as well as Russia, which objects to the establishment of what it views as a US threat in its backyard.

The US wants to place ten interceptor missiles in Poland along with a tracking radar in the Czech Republic.

The agreement, announced at the NATO summit underway in Bucharest, clears the way for a radar system to be built at Brdy.

However, the agreement will do little to thaw US-Russia relations, as Russia objects to the conclusion of the deal without input from Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to met US President George Bush on Sunday.

By staff writer