Thirty-one mayors from central Czech towns and villages near the site of a proposed US tracking radar Friday formed an association to fight the planned base, Czech media reported. Mayors took the decision at a meeting at Rozmital pod Tremsinem, around 10 kilometres (six miles) from Misov, which US experts have pinpointed as the favoured site for the radar base.
Washington wants to set up the base to boost missile defence against any attacks from "rogue" states such as Iran. "Next week at a working group we will formulate our demands to the government," the association's co-ordinator, the mayor of the nearby town of Pribram, Josef Rihak, told the agency CTK.
The local leaders have demanded direct talks with Czech government leaders over the possibility that the US radar will be set up on their doorstep. Some have called for compensation if the controversial plans proceed.