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Rice to visit Prague to sign missile shield deal


    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Prague next week to sign a deal to base radar in the Czech Republic as part of a missile defence shield, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

    The United States wants to install the tracking radar inthe Czech Republic and interceptor rockets in Poland to shielditself and its allies from attack by what it calls "rogue"states, including Iran.

    Russia opposes the system, arguing it could someday beexpanded to neutralize its nuclear deterrent.

    U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Ricewould leave Washington on Monday evening for Europe, but gaveno details on any other stops besides Prague.

    U.S. officials have said privately Rice would like to visitWarsaw next week if an agreement can be finalized with Polishauthorities in time.

    U.S. officials on Wednesday said negotiators had struck atentative agreement with Poland on the interceptors but thepact still required final Polish approval.

    On Thursday, a Polish ruling party source said the U.S.offer to Poland on the anti-missile shield was insufficient,saying Washington's proposed financial support for Poland's airdefences was much lower then Warsaw had expected.

    The source added that Poland's centre-right cabinet wouldissue an official statement on the U.S. offer on Friday.

    (Editing by Todd Eastham)