Russia open to changing missile treaty - General

Russia does not rule out changing the1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, a top defence ministryofficial said today.

The treaty outlaws missiledefence systems, such as the so-called

Son of Star Wars

plan by US President Mr George W Bush.

"The ABM treaty could be subject to modifications, and variouschanges have been made to it (in the past)," said General LeonidIvashov, who heads the ministry's key department of internationalmilitary cooperation.

But General Ivashov once again denounced the planned US missile defenceshield, saying it threatened to undermine global stability.

AFP