Prague, Sep 17 (DPA) Expectations that the US is to scrap a planned missile defence system in eastern Europe grew Thursday, with the Czech prime minister saying that US President Barack Obama told him Washington was pulling out of the project.

'Today shortly after midnight, American President Barack Obama contacted me by telephone to inform me that his government is pulling out from the plan to build a radar for the anti-missile defence system on the territory of the Czech Republic,' Jan Fischer told journalists in Prague.

'Poland was informed in the same way about this plan,' Fischer added. Washington has yet to make a formal statement on the issue.

Fischer said that the US now views short and medium-range missiles as a greater threat to its security compared to potential Iranian long-range missiles.

Fischer's comments follow a report in the Wall Street Journal Thursday that the White House is to argue the Bush-era project can be halted because Iran has been slower in building long-range missiles than previously estimated.

The system, which was to include 10 defensive missile stations in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic, had angered Russia.

Meanwhile, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ellen Tauscher, was travelling between Prague and Warsaw Thursday for meetings with government officials.

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Stanislaw Komorowski confirmed a Thursday morning meeting over the defence system in Warsaw between Polish and US delegations including US ambassador Victor Ashe.