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US' Gates scoffs at Russian warnings to Poland

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-18 11:09

Washington says the shield will be aimed at protecting the United States and its allies from long-range missiles that could be fired by Iran or groups such as al Qaeda.

Related readings:  US Secretary of State Rice to visit Poland  Moscow denounces US-Poland missile deal  US, Poland agree to anti-missile defense deal  Russia: Poland risks attack because of US missiles

The Kremlin has long disputed this, and opposed the planned shield as a threat to Russia. Russia's nuclear arsenal includes more than 5,000 ballistic warheads.

Tension between Moscow and Washington has risen in recent days, since Georgia's attempt to retake South Ossetia by force provoked a Russian counter-attack. Russia said on Sunday it would start withdrawing on Monday.

In a separate interview with CNN, Gates said Washington had agreed to give Moscow physical and technical access to the missile shield installations.

"We have agreed, along with our partners in Poland and the Czech Republic, to give the Russians access both physical and technical access so they know what's going on every step of the way," he said.

"We've agreed not to even make the interceptors operational until the Iranians have test-launched a missile that has the range to hit much of Western Europe, not to mention Russia. So this (Russian warning) is really an old song that they're singing and it really just doesn't play," he said.

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