"Secret negotiations took place last year over the stationing of one of three anti-missile bases in Poland," the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper said.

"It would be the only base of its kind not on American territory," it added, without citing a source.

Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz did not deny such talks had taken place.

"We will analyze everything thoroughly and at the appropriate moment say whether it is good or not for Poland," he said on the private television station TVN.

The defense minister in the government which stepped down earlier this month, Jerzy Smajdzinski, said "it is still too early for the necessary public debate" on the issue.

The new conservative government has already announced its interest in the project, dubbed "son of Star Wars" after the plan first mooted by former US president Ronald Reagan.

"We back the participation of Poland in what has been called the third stage of the anti-missile system, related to the radar identification and destruction of enemy missiles," a government statement about its official programme reads.

Poland, a staunch military ally of Washington, has about 1,400 soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express