US hints at missile shield delay

Mr Gates said Russian officials could be at the missile bases

The US may delay activating its Europe-based missile defence shield, Defence Secretary Robert Gates says.

Mr Gates said the US had put new proposals to Russia, which has strongly opposed sites for the shield being set up in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The defence secretary said activation could be delayed until there was "definitive proof" of a missile threat from states such as Iran.

Mr Gates also hinted that there could be a Russian presence at the bases.

We continue to encourage the Russians to partner with us in missile defence Robert Gates US defence secretary Q&A: US missile defences

On Tuesday he met Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in Prague and said afterwards: "We would consider tying together activation of the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with definitive proof of the threat - in other words, Iranian missile testing and so on."

Mr Gates also suggested Russian officials could be present at the bases, although when asked about the possibility, Mr Topolanek said: "No comment".

Mr Gates said nothing would be done without Czech agreement.

He said the aim was to "encourage the Russians to partner with us in missile defence", adding that "these facilities are not aimed at Russia and could benefit Russia".

Map of US missile defence systems

The missile shield system would see a radar site set up in the Czech Republic and a missile interceptor base in Poland.

Russia has vehemently opposed bases on the territories of its former Warsaw Pact allies.

Mr Gates and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received a frosty reception when they tried to sell the plan in Moscow this month.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow saw the shield as a "potential threat" to its security and wanted to "neutralise" it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin widened the debate by also threatening to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty.

He said it would be difficult to remain part of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty unless it was expanded to include more countries than just the US and Russia.

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