US talks tough on missiles

The United States could use its right to withdraw unilaterally from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty if no agreement has been reached on its missile defence plans with Russia by November, a senior US negotiator has said.

Under-Secretary of State John Bolton, who is in Moscow for two days of arms talks, said Washington needed meaningful progress before the two countries' presidents hold a summit that month.

He made the remarks during an exclusive live interview with Echo Moskvy radio station, but did not call November an official deadline.

Mr Bolton is the third senior US security official to visit Russia since Presidents Bush and Putin agreed last month to new consultations linking missile defence to talks on cutting the nuclear arsenals of both countries.

Russia remains committed to the ABM treaty, which prohibits the development of the national missile defence system envisaged by the Bush administration.