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Russia blames US for Georgia war Russia to move missiles to Baltic
(40 minutes later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the United States for the recent conflict in Georgia, in his first state-of-the-nation speech. Russia is to deploy short-range missiles in a Baltic enclave near Nato member Poland, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says.
The August war over Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region was the result of "conceited" US foreign policy, he said. Putting Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region would "neutralise" the planned US anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, he said.
Mr Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin in May, vowed that Russia "won't retreat in the Caucasus". The US says its shield is a defence against missiles from "rogue" nations, but Moscow sees it as a direct threat.
He also told parliament that he wanted to extend the Russian presidential term from four to six years. Mr Medvedev also blamed the US for the recent conflict in Georgia.
Mr Medvedev did not elaborate if he wanted to extend his own term, or change the rules for his successor. Russia ousted Georgian troops from Tbilisi's rebel region of South Ossetia in August.
There has long been speculation that Mr Medvedev is a stop-gap so that Prime Minister Putin - who had served the maximum two consecutive terms - can return to the top job, correspondents say. 'Conceited' US policy
'Retaliatory measures' In his first state-of-the nation address, Mr Medvedev said Moscow would deploy the Iskander missile system in the Kaliningrad region to "neutralise - if necessary - the [US] anti-missile system".
Addressing Russian lawmakers in the Kremlin, Mr Medvedev said: "The tragedy of Tskhinvali [South Ossetia's capital]... was a consequence of the conceited policy of Washington". "Naturally, we also consider using for the same purpose the resources of Russia's navy," he said.
Mr Medvedev also said Russia would jam the US anti-missile system electronically.
In his speech to lawmakers, the Russian leader said the war in Georgia had resulted from a "conceited" US foreign policy.
He said "the conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending Nato warships to the Black Sea and also for the foisting on Europe of America's anti-missile systems".He said "the conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending Nato warships to the Black Sea and also for the foisting on Europe of America's anti-missile systems".
In response, Mr Medvedev said that Moscow would deploy the new short-range missile system Iskander in the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave between Nato members Poland and Lithuania. Mr Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin in May, vowed that Russia "won't retreat in the Caucasus".
He said the move would "neutralise" US missile defence plans. Turning to administrative reforms, he told parliament that he wanted to extend the Russian presidential term from four to six years.
Russia and Georgia fought a 10-day conflict over South Ossetia in August. Mr Medvedev did not explain if he wanted to extend his own term, or change the rules for his successor.
Moscow has kept troops in South Ossetia - and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia - since ousting Georgian forces during the conflict. There has long been speculation that Mr Medvedev is a stop-gap so that Prime Minister Putin - who served the maximum two consecutive terms - can return to the top job, correspondents say.
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, eager to join Nato, has forged close ties with the US while liberalising the Georgian economy. Mr Medvedev also blamed Washington for the global financial crisis, but said Russia would "overcome" the challenge.
In his speech, Mr Medvedev also blamed Washington for the global financial crisis, but said Russia would "overcome" the challenge.