Threats to target US missile shield

MOSCOW (AP):

Russia's president threatened yesterday to deploy missiles to target the United State's missile shield in Europe if Washington fails to assuage Moscow's concerns about its plans, a harsh warning that reflected deep cracks in US-Russian ties despite President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" relations with the Kremlin.

Dmitry Medvedev said he still hopes for a deal with the US on missile defence, but he strongly accused Washington and its NATO allies of ignoring Russia's worries. He said that Russia will have to take military countermeasures if the US continues to build the shield without legal guarantees that it will not be aimed against Russia.

Repeated assurance

The US has repeatedly assured Russia that its proposed missile defence system wouldn't be directed against Russia's nuclear forces, and it did that again yesterday.

"I do think it's worth reiterating that the European missile defence system that we've been working very hard on with our allies and with Russia over the last few years is not aimed at Russia," said Captain John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman. "It is designed to help deter and defeat the ballistic missile threat to Europe and to our allies from Iran."