Russians 'moving nuclear weapons' into European base

Russia is reported to be moving tactical nuclear weapons into a military base in Eastern Europe for the first time since the Cold War.

The move is seen as a bid to step up military pressure on the expanded Nato alliance.

The transfers of nuclear weapons to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad followed threats several years ago to position such weapons outside of Russia's territory in response to expansion of the military group.

Kaliningrad is a Baltic Sea port located between Poland and Lithuania, and a major military base for Russian ground and naval forces, including the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet.

The movement of the new battlefield nuclear arms was detected in June but withheld from policy-makers until now. US intelligence officials say the move is a sign Moscow is following through with earlier threats.

The Washington Times reported that a new short-range missile known as the Toka, with a range of about 44 miles, was being deployed there.

Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon declined to comment on intelligence reports of the movement of tactical nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad.

However, he said: "If the Russians have placed tactical nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, it would violate their pledge that they were removing nuclear weapons from the Baltics, and that the Baltics should be nuclear-free."

Russia and the US announced in 1991 and 1992 a non-binding agreement to reduce arsenals of tactical nuclear weapons from overseas bases.

President Bill Clinton's administration arms-control officials have suggested the tactical nuclear arms in Kaliningrad may be part of an attempt by Moscow to test the incoming administration of President-elect George W Bush.