PRAGUE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A crowd of nearly 1,000 gathered at Jan Palach Square in the Czech capital of Prague to protest against the planned U.S. radar base in the country.

    Protestors also marched through the capital, holding banners saying, "Stop the new arms race" and chanting slogans like "No radar base here."

    They also presented a letter intended for President Barack Obama to the U.S. embassy.

    Vojtech Filip, chairman of the Czech Communist Party, which organized the protest, said his party wants a referendum on stationing a radar base near Prague.

    Other groups including the Mayors' League Against Radar also took part in the rally.

    According to the latest poll, two thirds of Czech citizens insist on a referendum on stationing the U.S. radar base, which is part of a planned U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe.

    The Czech Senate approved two treaties between the Czech Republic and the United States concerning the issue, but the documents need further endorsement from the lower house of parliament and Czech President Vaclav Klaus before coming into effect.