Social Democrats to vote no to US radar base

The opposition Social Democrats say they will vote against the building of a United States radar base in the Czech Republic. Party leader Jiri Paroubek said they will also demand a referendum on the issue. The US recently asked the Czech government if it could locate the radar - part of a planned global missile defence system - in central Bohemia. So far only the biggest party in the governing coalition, the Civic Democrats, have said they will support the plan.

On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would come up with a "highly effective" response to Washington's plan to build parts of its anti-missile system in the Czech Republic and Poland. Mr Putin dismissed claims the system would defend Europe from Iran, saying it would directly affect his country.

Czech MEP Libor Roucek and other members of the Socialist bloc at the European Parliament on Thursday sent a letter to the Council of the European Union asking it to express its position on the matter.