A military funding bill that has been passed by U.S. Congress will not approve funds for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives panel that oversees military spending, John Murtha, said legislation will be put together for the defence system, but no money is currently being set aside. He added that there is not even a basic agreement between Poland and the United States covering the missile system. Russia rejects American assurances that the system does not pose a threat to its security.