The US should halt moves to deploy a missile defence shield in central Europe, pending further talks, the Russian foreign minister has said.

Sergei Lavrov was speaking after President Bush made clear Poland and the US were committed to the plan.

Russia has proposed a radar station in Azerbaijan should be used instead of Polish and also Czech locations.

Mr Lavrov said US plans could "seriously complicate" talks on the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme.

The United Nations imposed sanctions on Iran in March after it refused to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.

Source : BBC News 

Putin's offer

"It's necessary to freeze the deployment of a missile defence system in Europe for a period of study and analysis, as well as negotiations on this issue," Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.

Mr Lavrov also said that America's stated intention of protecting against potential Iranian threat would anger Tehran by indicating that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, the Ria-Novosti news agency reported.