CAIRO Ñ Libya has warned Spain that it will not accept the presence of foreign warships taking part in a U.S. missile defense system.

Angered by reports that Spain was cooperating with the planned U.S. shield and that a Spanish warship with the U.S. Aegis radar system would monitor Libyan missile developments, Libya summoned the Spanish ambassador for an explanation.

In the meeting, the Spanish diplomats assured Libya that it is not regarded as a missile threat to southern Europe, Middle East Newsline reported. They told the government in Tripoli that the NATO country has no plans to participate in a U.S. missile defense umbrella meant to protect against Libyan missiles.

Libya has been upset by reports, including one in a Spanish daily, that Madrid has been negotiating with the United States to be included in a missile defense system.

Under the reported arrangement, Spain would contribute a warship based in the western Mediterranean and monitor Libyan missile deployment. The ship would contain the U.S. Aegis radar system, meant to detect enemy missile launches.

But Spanish diplomats denied the reports in meetings with Libyan officials. They said Spain does not want to damage relations with Libya.

For its part, Libyan officials warned that Tripoli would not tolerate the deployment of foreign warships off its shores.

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