Unlikely that US-Russia arms pact done by Dec 5 -US

WASHINGTON Nov 27 (Reuters) - Outstanding issues between the United States and Russia have made it less likely that a deal to cut vast Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons will be finished by a Dec. 5 deadline, a U.S. official said on Friday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a "bridging" pact would be worked on if the deadline were not met.

"Both the negotiating teams recognize that first and foremost they need to keep working to try to finalize a deal that is comprehensive, however, should time run out, efforts shall be made to provide for a bridging agreement or understanding," the official said. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Mohammad Zargham) ((jeff.mason@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8392; Reuters Messaging: jeff.mason.reuters.com@reuters.net))