Vilnius - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus described Russia's plans to deploy missiles in its Kaliningrad enclave as "beyond comprehension" Wednesday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier in the day that Russia would deploy short-range Iskander missiles in its Baltic Sea enclave, which borders Lithuania, in answer to US plans to site a missile defence system in Eastern Europe.

Riga/Tallinn/Vilnius  - Senior politicians in the three small Baltic states added their voices to the chorus of congratulations for Barack Obama after his US election victory Wednesday.

There was unanimity in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that the result offered a chance to deepen an already warm transatlantic relationship.

Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa: "We congratulate Obama and his team on this victory. Bilateral relations between Estonia and the US will be as active, good and deep as they have been so far."

Riga/Tallinn/Vilnius  - Baltic leaders voiced hope Wednesday that ties with the US will strengthen further with Barack Obama as president, including cooperation in confronting Russia.

Top politicians in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all said the outcome of Tuesday's election offered a chance to deepen an already warm trans-Atlantic relationship.

Congratulating Obama, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said there is "a window of opportunity for even more active coordination and cooperation of foreign policy between the European Union and the United States, especially when we speak about issues like Afghanistan or policies vis-a-vis Russia."

Vilnius- Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus played host to US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Thursday in Vilnius, and was told Lithuanians will be able to travel to the US from November 17 without a visa.

Chertoff has spent the last few days touring the region delivering similar official confirmation to other states including Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Vilnius - Leaders of Lithuania's parties include a stunt pilot who was the first European president to be impeached, a fugitive gherkin magnate and a game show host who was once arrested in connection with a bomb scare. In such a bizarre political landscape, Andrius Kubilius seems unusual for being a professional politician.

Kubilius is seen as the country's likely next prime minister after a round of coalition-building wraps up in the wake of recently finished elections.

Riga/Vilnius - The chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff Admiral Michael G Mullen was in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Wednesday at the end of a brief but highly symbolic visit.

He had talks with President Valdas Adamkus less than a day after his eight-car motorcade cut a swathe through Riga's evening rush hour to drop him at Riga castle to see Latvian president Valdis Zatlers.

Mullen's Baltic detour came immediately after the conclusion of talks in Helsinki where top military leaders from the United States and Russia met Tuesday for the first time since this summer's war between Russia and Georgia.