Polish PM Tusk rejects Russian ballistic threat

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed on Sunday a Russian warning that the positioning of a U.S. anti-missile base in Poland could trigger a Russian ballistic missile attack.

He was replying to a Russian warning that the firing of a weapon from a U.S. anti-missile system in Poland could be misread by Moscow's automated defences, triggering the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in return.

"When I hear the words of a Russian general about an automatic reaction, that recalled the worst of times to me," said Tusk, whose country was an unwilling member of the Soviet bloc from 1944 to 1989.

"Remarks of that type are impermissible, because no Russian general is going to influence Polish-U.S. negotiations on the question."

Defense minister Radoslaw Sikorski had said earlier Poland would listen to Russia's arguments but would take its own decision on the missile shield.

Sikorski, who is due to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak shortly, said: "We have not yet reached a conclusion as to whether the anti-missile shield is necessary."

On Saturday, army Chief of Staff Yuri Baluyevsky told a news conference in Moscow: "The firing of an anti-missile rocket from Poland could be seen by Russia's automated system as the launch of a ballistic missile, which could provoke a responsive strike."

Poland has asked the United States for Patriot missiles or similar air protection to defend its cities if it is to host the anti-missile shield on its territory.

Russia is opposed to the U.S. plan to site up to 10 ground-based interceptor missiles in northern Poland and a radar facility in the Czech Republic to protect against attacks from what it calls "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the plan could unleash a new arms race and might force Moscow to take retaliatory measures.

(Writing by Rob Strybel; editing by Elizabeth Piper)