Polish Premier, President spar over US missile deal

WARSAW (AFP) - The looming signing of a deal on basing a US missile shield in Poland has sparked a new round in a long-running spat between Polish President Lech Kaczynski and arch-rival Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

On the eve of Wednesday’s (today) signing ceremony in Warsaw with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Kaczynski and Tusk, who both backed the deal, were in disagreement over who should give a prime-time television speech about it.

Tusk had been set to address the nation Tuesday evening, but changed his mind after learning Kaczynski was planning to do the same.

“I considered it would be ridiculous to have two speeches on the same evening on the same subject. So obviously, I cancelled,” Tusk told reporters.