Ahmadinejad Says Missile Shield Would Threaten Asia

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad at today's SCO summit in Bishkek (AFP) August 16, 2007 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is quoted as saying today that a proposed U.S. missile-defense shield in Central Europe would threaten "most of Asia."

His comment came in an official Russian translation of remarks he made in Farsi at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek.

Iran has observer status in the SCO, which comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Washington cites Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions as one of the main reasons why a missile-defense system is needed in Central Europe.

Poland and the Czech Republic are considering hosting elements of the shield.

(AFP, AP)