US President George W Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin failed to bridge the gap between the two countries on the proposed US anti-missile shield after a fresh round of talks in Maine.

The two heads of state met in an informal setting at Bush' family retreat in Kennebunkport, agreeing to bring in other European countries into the talks, which would be held within the Russia-NATO framework.

But the two presidents ended no closer on the issue of Poland and Czech Republic hosting some of the shield's components, which Russia is opposed to, threatening earlier to redirect its missiles back towards Europe in that case.

The alternatives offered by Putin include the use of an upgraded Soviet-era radar station in Azerbaijan and a new radar facility in southern Russia.

Putin and Bush also vowed to work together to solve the crisis caused by Iran's nuclear enrichment programme, although Russia stopped short of backing the US demands for UN sanctions.

The sensitive issue of the future statue of Kosovo was not discussed. The US are strongly backing the province's independence, while Russia backs Serbia's demands for continued talks on the status of Kosovo.

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