Romania pres: Defense body approves US missiles

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President Traian Basescu says the
country's top defense body has approved a U.S. proposal to place
anti-ballistic interceptors in Romania as part of a revamped U.S.
missile shield.

Basescu says the measure is not directed against Russia. He says
the interceptors will increase national security.

U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden was in Romania in October as
part of a tour of Central Europe, where he presented a revamped
U.S. missile shield to replace a scrapped Bush-era plan to install
interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.

It was unclear whether the announcement reflected any decision
by the Obama administration on where to place interceptors for its
European system.

The measure passed the Supreme Defense Council on Thursday and
must be approved by Parliament.