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Missile test adds to arms race fears

Luke Harding

Moscow: Russia on Tuesday threatened a new cold war-style arms race with the United States by announcing that it had successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of penetrating American defences.

Russia's hawkish first Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said the country had tested both a new multiple-warhead intercontinental missile, the RS-24, and an improved version of its short-range Iskander missile.

He said the missiles were capable of destroying enemy systems and added: ``As of today Russia has new missiles that are capable of overcoming any existing or future missile defence systems. In terms of defence and security, Russia can look calmly to the country's future.'' The missile tests follow months of anger in Moscow over the Bush administration's determination to install parts of a controversial missile defence shield in Eastern Europe.

President Vladimir Putin has been incensed by the Pentagon's plans to site missile interceptors and radar shields in Poland and the Czech Republic.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2007

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