Czech minister delays U.S. missile ruling

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The Czech defense minister says a decision on stationing a U.S. missile defense system on Czech territory should be delayed until spring 2008.

Czech Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova said parliament should debate before taking a vote on whether to allow the United States to deploy a radar base south of Prague, Praha Radio said Monday.

The radar base would be part of the U.S. anti-missile defense system in Europe and interceptor missiles would be stationed in Poland.

If the U.S. plan is approved, the radar base with 200 personnel could go into operation in 2011.