Poland, U.S. to sign prelim missile deal

WARSAW, Poland, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The United States and Poland will sign an preliminary agreement to place missile interceptors in Poland, the Polish president's office said Thursday.

Part of a U.S. ballistic missile defense system will be in Poland and part will be placed in the Czech Republic, CNN reported.

The plan has drawn sharp objections from Russia, which has said the plan could threaten the country's security. The United States said the missile shield would counter threats from the Middle East.

The interceptor rockets planned for Poland would link to the air defense radar system in the Czech Republic, which agreed in April to participate, CNN said.

As part of the deal, the United States agreed to help Poland modernize its military, which it requested as a condition for its support.