Russia wants presence at Czech missile defense sites - Lavrov

■ YEREVAN (RIA Novosti) - Russia's foreign minister said on Monday that the country will only lift its objections to a U.S. anti-missile radar in the Czech Republic if Russian observers are permanently posted at the facilities.

"A one-off visit would not change anything, but only increase our suspicions," Sergei Lavrov told journalists.

The agreement to station a U.S. tracking radar in the Czech Republic was signed on July 8 by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

On September 19, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The pact governs the deployment of U.S. military personnel at the radar station.

The radar is part of a planned missile shield system which would also include the deployment of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The U.S. says it needs the Central European shield to protect against attacks by "rogue states" such as Iran.

The plans are fiercely opposed by Russia, which sees the missile shield as a threat to its national security and the international system of nuclear deterrence.

Russia sees clear path for Iran reactor launch: report

■ MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia sees no political obstacles to the start-up of the first reactor at Iran's Russian-built nuclear plant at Bushehr, a senior Russian diplomat was quoted as saying Monday.

"From a political point of view, there are no problems with this," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the official ITAR-TASS news agency after visiting Tehran over the weekend.

"Right now, the final stages of preparing the station for launch are under way," he said.

"Among the six parties, there is a full understanding that the work at Bushehr has no proliferation risks," he said, referring to the six countries that have been negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.

Russia is among the six countries talking with Iran over the nuclear issue, along with the United States, Britain, China, France and Germany. Moscow has resisted calls for tougher sanctions on Tehran.

Russian ship passes Suez on anti-piracy mission

■ MOSCOW (AP) - A navy official says a Russian warship is passing through the Suez Canal to join military vessels from other nations protecting shipping in waters off Somalia.

Russian Navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo says the guided missile frigate Neustrashimy (Intrepid) will join warships surrounding an arms-laden Ukrainian vessel seized by Somali pirates three weeks ago.

U.S. warships have been surrounding the MV Faina, aiming to prevent the pirates from any attempt to offload the ship's cargo of more than 30 tanks and other weapons. Dygalo said Tuesday that the Russian ship may coordinate its action with other foreign vessels.