Nearly two-thirds of Czechs oppose radar base-poll

...Washington, a public opinion poll showed on Thursday.

The poll, conducted by the state-funded CVVM agency, showed 65 percent of the 1,013 respondents were either slightly or strongly against hosting the radar component of the missile shield, up from 61 percent in a similar survey in May.

Only 28 percent of Czechs were in favour of hosting the base, down from 30 percent in the previous poll.

Washington wants to build the radar facility in the Czech Republic and place up to 10 ground-based interceptor missiles in northern Poland to protect against attacks from what it calls "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

The plan has upset Russia, which sees it as an encroachment in Moscow's former sphere of influence. The dispute has strained relations between Moscow and Washington and prompted some officials to draw comparisons with the Cold War.

Even if the government comes to a final agreement on hosting the radar base, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek faces a battle to win parliamentary ratification for the site.

Most of the leftist opposition Social Democrats and Communists oppose the base. Topolanek's government holds 100 seats in the 200 seat lower house and must convince at least one deputy to cross the floor if a deal if to be ratified.