URGENT: Russia welcomes Prague's move to delay U.S. missile shield vote

MOSCOW, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia welcomes the Czech Republic's decision to put off a vote on the ratification of a deal to place a radar on its soil as part of U.S. missile shield, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"We believe this decision reflects the public opinion prevailing in the country," official ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told a news briefing.