Russia has decided to scrap four more rail-based missile launchers and 18 Topol missile launchers by the end of 2005, the commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops said on Wednesday.

"Five rail-based missile launchers have been scrapped in Bryansk this year and four others are to be scrapped before the end of this year," the Interfax news agency quoted Nikolai Solovtsov as saying.

"Nine Topol missile launchers have been destroyed in Pibanshur and 18 others will have been destroyed by year end," he added.

According to the commander, the Strategic Missile Troops' arsenals, including missiles and missile launchers, are included in the Soviet-US Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START).

Russia's rail-based missile launchers and Topol mobile missile complexes have been drawing increased attention from the United States, the commander said.

The destruction of rail-based missile launchers in Bryansk, southwest of Moscow, and of Topol missile systems in the Pibanshur military base in Ural region,has been proceeding under the control of American inspectors, he said, adding that RS-18 and RS-20 silo-based liquid fuel missiles are being scrapped without US supervision.

The commander also noted that the scrapping work is proceeding in strict observance of technological and environmental safety regulations. The technologies used have been tested for their compliance with world standards and have proved to be "absolutely safe."

Source: Xinhua