Washington, Sep 17 (DPA) The US has dropped plans to base a long-range missile-defence system in Eastern Europe and will instead deploy less complicated systems to counter Iran's ballistic missile programme, President Barack Obama announced Thursday.

The Bush-era plans to install 10 interceptors in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic had long been controversial and were a key cause of the deterioration of US-Russia relations in recent years.

'This new approach will provide capability sooner, build on proven systems and offer greater defenses against the threat of missile attack,' Obama said.

The US will replace the deployment of the long-range system with more proven short-and medium-range technologies like the sea-based Aegis system and other land-based capabilities, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said.

Moscow vehemently opposed the deployment initiated by the Bush administration in 2006, which reached agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic to host the system. The plans had been held up as the agreement awaited parliamentary approval in both countries.

Meanwhile, Russia argued the system posed a threat to its strategic nuclear deterrent and warned it would target the US system in Eastern Europe. A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said in Moscow prior to Obama's announcement that the pending cancellation was 'good news for Russia'.

There had been speculation Obama would abandon the plans as he tries to 'reset' relations with Moscow and move beyond the tension. Ending the plans could also ease negotations underway between the two sides on a nuclear disarmament treaty to replace the one that expires at the end of this year.

Gates said the decision to scrap the plans was based on updated intelligence assessments that stated Iran's short-and medium-range missile capability was moving at a faster pace than previously believed.

'This poses an increased and more immediate threat to our forces on the European continent, as well as to our allies,' he said.