Arms race claim over US missile defence plan
A Russian military chief claims US plans for a national missile defence system will lead to a new arms race.
Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, head of the international co-operation department of the Russian defence ministry, said the rhetoric of President George W Bush's administration was "anti-Russian".
He also claimed Mr Bush was trying to reduce Russia's prestige and power in the world.
Mr Ivashov is a leader of a Russian campaign to counter US allegations Russia is spreading nuclear missile technology to such countries as North Korea and Iran.
The US says a new missile defence system is needed to counter a potential nuclear threat from such "rogue nations" .
"Talk of the necessity to develop a national missile defence system to counter threats of strikes of inter-continental ballistic missiles from North Korea, Iran and Iraq on the territory of the United States is pure fantasy. Nobody in the world believes that story," Mr Ivashov said.
He said such a system would be aimed at China and Russia.
