"The government has decided to withdraw the two pacts with the United States on setting up a radar station on Czech soil," he said in a brief statement on state television.

The treaty was due to be ratified in parliament's lower house.

"That is not to say that we will reject the process of ratification because we can re-introduce it in the house whenever we want," he said.

Prague and Washington last year signed two deals for the installment of a missile radar southwest of Prague that would link to two other facilities in Poland.

Topolanek has backed the project since he came to power in 2006 but several Czech politicians are worried that Washington may re-think the plan under the new administration of President Barack Obama.

Obama said during his election campaign that he would go ahead with the proposal only if the shield was financially viable and the technology up to speed.

To take effect, the shield project must be ratified by both houses of the Czech parliament and signed by the president. The upper house Senate has already backed the project.

The centre-right coalition does not have adequate numbers in the lower house to ensure the smooth passage of the treaty.

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