WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on Monday that its plan to develop missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic was aimed at "irresponsible states" rather than Russia.

    "It's not aimed at Russia, it's aimed at those irresponsible states that may possess these technologies that could threaten our friends and allies, that could threaten the United States," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of a proposal to set up anti-missile bases in the former Warsaw Pact states.

    "We are open to missile defense cooperation with Russia, so it's not meant to exclude Russia," McCormack told reporters.

    McCormack made the remarks soon after a senior Russian official criticized the U.S. proposal to install part of its missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

    "Our analysis shows that the placement of a radar station in the Czech Republic and an anti-missile position in Poland would create a clear threat for Russia," said Russian General Vladimir Popovkin, chief of the military's Space Forces.

    The United States plans to deploy a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland. The operation is going to start in 2011 and the location of the base would be decided early this year. Washington is also to make the final decision on the operation early this year.

    It was reported that in the coming two weeks the United States would present Poland the details of a proposal to build an anti-missile shield in Poland.

    The United States made a formal offer to the Czech Republic and wants to open talks with Poland on the shield. 

A protestor holds up placard reading "against U.S. military base" during a rally in Prague, capital of Czech on Jan. 21, 2007. Around 150 people rallied in the center of Prague on Sunday to protest against the possible location of a U.S. missile defense base in the Czech Republic. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Commander: planned U.S. missile defense sites in E. Europe a threat to Russia

    MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The planned U.S. missile defense sites in eastern Europe is "an obvious threat" to Russia's security, a top Russian military commander said on Monday.

    The United States is in talks with NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic in search for a base to deploy missile defense systems in eastern Europe.

Official: Anti-missile shield should increase Poland's security

    WARSAW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said on Monday that anti-missile shield should increase Poland's security.

    Waszczykowski told the PAP news agency that in the coming two weeks the United States would present Poland the details of a proposal to build an anti-missile shield in Poland.

Czech opponents protest against establishing U.S. missile defense base

    PRAGUE, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Around 150 people rallied in the center of Prague on Sunday to protest against the possible location of a U.S. missile defense base in the Czech Republic.

    Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said at a press conference on Saturday that the United States had decided to start negotiations with Prague about the location of the radar part of its missile defense base in the Czech Republic.

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U.S. criticizes Russia's delivery of missile defense systems to Iran

Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States criticized on Tuesday Russia's delivery of TOR-M1 surface-to-air missile defense systems to Iran and said the delivery sent a wrong signal.

    "We don't think that it's an appropriate signal to be sending to the government of Teheran at this time, particularly when they are under UN sanctions for trying to develop a nuclear weapon, and when they continue to be in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.