February 2001 World Headlines

Friday, February 16, 2001 - Web posted at 9:23:18 AM GMT

US, Russia in new spat over missiles
PATRICK LANNIN

MOSCOW - Russia's forthright rejection yesterday of US allegations that Moscow was responsible for spreading missile technology has added further heat to a furore over US plans for a "Son of Star Wars" missile defence shield.

The row has been the main strain in ties between the world's top two nuclear powers and looms over the first face-to-face talks between new US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, due on February 24.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld fired his latest salvo on Wednesday, saying Russia was "part of the problem" in missile technology proliferation, which has made the United States want to build a National Missile Defence (NMD).

Russia's armed forces First Deputy Chief of Staff Valery Manilov was quick to respond."

"These words are on the conscience of Mr Rumsfeld as one can only make such statements when one has the necessary and incontrovertible proof of what the politician is saying."

"Russia has not violated, does not violate and will not violate its obligations, including in the area of non-proliferation," Manilov told Reuters Television.

Washington says NMD would be a defensive system aimed at missiles from "rogue states" such as Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

Russia and China say it would be directed against them.

To build NMD, the United States would also need to modify the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM), which bans such national defence systems.

Russia has said amending the treaty to allow national missile defence would lead to a new arms race and wreck global stability.

Several of Washington's European allies have expressed doubts about the viability of NMD and concerns about its impact on existing arms control agreements.

- Nampa-Reuters

•  India court orders security for Christians
•  Palin provides 'perfect populist pitch'
•  Poll: Media partisan
•  East Congo risks plunging back into war
•  Pakistan PM escapes assassination attempt
•  900 prisoners on hunger strike
•  Ex-wife stripped naked for friends
•  SADC leaders pay their respects to Mwanawasa
•  World's tallest building just got even taller
•  Russia shuts its embassy in Georgia
•  Child porn ring broken
•  Next US president must lead on climate
•  Palin takes centre stage at convention
•  Iraqi girl tells of ordeal as suicide bomber
•  Solange Knowles, so now
•  14 African migrants die on way to islands