950811

Clinton govt

delays action

on missile bill

WASHINGTON: Clinton administration officials and Senate Democrats succeeded late on Thursday in delaying action for at least a month on a defence bill they said would break the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty.

The Senate last week approved provisions of a $265 billion defence authorisation bill that would establish a U.S. policy of constructing a multi-site, anti-missile defence for U.S. cities by 2003.

But Senate Democrats and officials of President Bill Clinton's administration have been trying since then to work out a deal to revise those provisions, saying they would violate the ABM treaty because it allows only one anti-missile site each for the United States and for former Soviet Union republics.

Late Thursday, both supporters and opponents of the anti-missile defence provision agreed the Senate could take no final action on the $265 billion defence authorisation bill until Congress returns from summer recess next month.-Reuter