Hundreds in Prague protest proposed US missile defense installation, demand referendum
Mar 17 2008, 12:39

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Prague Castle Saturday to protest plans by Washington to place parts of a missile defense system on Czech soil and demand a referendum on the issue.

The US is in talks with the Czech government to locate a missile tracking radar system at a base in a military area near Prague. Washington also wants to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as part of a missile defense shield that US officials say is necessary to protect against possible future attacks from Iran.

US President George W. Bush and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said in Washington last month that the two countries were close to an agreement.

While the Czech government has been receptive to the proposal, most Czechs oppose it, according to recent polls. The government opposes holding a referendum, and says it will seek parliament's approval once it has settled on a deal with the US

"Most of the public don't agree with the radar," said Jan Majicek, an organizer of the rally outside Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency. News "The people want a referendum as the only means to decide about the radar," he said.

The protesters planned to march through the city to the US Embassy in Prague.

Russia opposes the US plan to build part of its global missile defense system so close to Russian borders, arguing that it would undermine the Russian deterrent and could trigger a new arms race.