Polish PM Hosting US shield may counter Russia

WARSAW, Oct 18 (Reuters) Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said today that hosting a U.S anti-missile shield could help protect Poland, citing a possible threat from Russia.

Poland has previously said the shield is not linked to Russia, which opposes the plan to put installations for the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Washington says the shield is aimed at ''rogue states'', not Moscow.

Asked why Poland wants to host the installation, Kaczynski told a news conference: ''This will boost our security ..... We have to remember that we are in a state of permanent threat. The Russians have not accepted the changes since 1989 and it is obvious that they consider us as within their sphere of influence.'' Kaczynski was referring to the fall of communism in 1989, which ended Soviet domination over Poland.

REUTERS PD PM1817