WARSAW: Scores of Poles protested on Saturday against a proposal to deploy a US missile shield in central Europe and against Polish military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The United States wants to deploy a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland by 2011-12.

It says the system would counter threats from so-called “rogue states” such as Iran and North Korea.

Poland has about 2,200 soldiers in international peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Bosnia, Kosovo and Lebanon.

About 500 marchers, mostly young, marched through the capital Warsaw and used slingshots to lob several yellow toy ducks at the presidential palace. The root of President Lech Kacyznski’s surname means duck in Polish.

They chanted “Kaczynski is a terrorist” and waved banners saying “Enough American imperialism” as they passed the US Embassy.

Numerous riot-ready police escorted the marchers.—Reuters