Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a news conference in Kremlin, Moscow Feb. 1, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Shen Bohan) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 2 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected claims from the United States. Washington said possible deployment of US missile defense sites in central Europe was intended to counter threats posed by Iran. Putin warns that Russia would take counter measures.

    At his annual news conference on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Washington's arguments about defending Europe from possible hostile missiles fired from Iran in the future. He said the anti-missile system would directly affect Russia.

    Putin said, "Our military experts don't believe that the missile defense systems to be deployed in eastern Europe are intended to counter the threat from Iran or some terrorists,"

    Putin added that Iran did not possess long-range ballistic missiles, only medium-range devices which are not capable of reaching Europe.

    Putin hopes a visit by Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov to Tehran this month will help remove suspicions in the international community about Iran's alleged plans to create nuclear weapons.

    As for the election of the presidency in the country, Putin promised that there will be only "candidates" for the post, not "successors." Putin's second term as president ends in 2008, he said he would not seek a third term.

(Source: CCTV.com)

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