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Britain supports US missile defence projects

LONDON: Britain is willing to support the United States in the first stage of its $50 billion national missile protective shield despite cabinet fears of anti-nuclear protests, the Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has spoken to President Bill Clinton about the missile system and given assurances of his support, the Guardian said, citing unidentified cabinet sources.

Asked about the report, a Defence Ministry spokesman told Reuters: "No comment."

The Guardian said there were cabinet fears that the project could trigger a revival of mass anti-nuclear protests across Europe.

The first stage of the missile system is designed to give the United States early warning of a nuclear attack by North Korea, the newspaper said.

This required changes to computer software at an existing U.S. satellite base at Fylingdales in the eastern English county of Yorkshire.

"How can we turn down a request from our closest ally to change its computer software?" an unidentified British cabinet minister was quoted as saying.

The Guardian said the second stage, intended to head off a nuclear attack from Iran, Iraq and rogue Middle East states, would require the massive extension of a U.S. base in Britain.

If the project goes ahead, the United States will then build 200 interceptor missiles to track and destroy incoming nuclear missiles, the paper said.

The Guardian said the French and German governments were opposed to the new generation of weaponry, believing it would breach international treaties and undermine the current balance of deterrence between Russia and the United States.-Reuters