Deal on radar base very close, says US official

A senior United States official says a deal with the Czech Republic on the building of a US radar base in central Bohemia is very close to completion. Assistant Secretary of State John Rood said in Washington that it could be agreed in the next few days. His statements echo those of the Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolánek, who said it seemed the last remaining points of contention in the bilateral deal had been ironed out and all that remained was to arrange a signing ceremony. Mr Rood said he hoped the US would find wider support for its global anti missile defence shield at a NATO summit in Bucharest later this week.

The main Czech negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Tomáš Pojar, said agreement between the Czech Republic and the US would likely be reached either before or during the NATO summit.

The proposed radar in the Czech Republic would be linked to a missile base in neighbouring Poland. The Czech Parliament has yet to vote on the matter.