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Kyrgyzstan 'to shut key US base' Kyrgyzstan 'to shut key US base'
(about 5 hours later)
Kyrgyzstan's president has said his government is closing a key US air base on its territory.Kyrgyzstan's president has said his government is closing a key US air base on its territory.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev made the announcement in Moscow, where he was promised more than $2bn (£1.4bn) in aid by Russia. Kurmanbek Bakiyev made the announcement in Moscow, where he was promised more than $2bn (£1.4bn) in Russian aid.
Despite this officials in Washington said the US was still hoping to continue using the Manas base. But a US embassy spokesman said on Wednesday that Washington had received no formal notification of the decision.
Manas - outside the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek - supports US and Nato operations in Afghanistan and is the only US base in Central Asia. He added that negotiations would continue on the future of the Manas air base, which supports US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.
The closure of the base will be a big blow for those operations in Afghanistan, the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says. It is a hugely important air base for us Geoff MorellPentagon spokesman The closure of the base would be a big blow for those operations in Afghanistan, the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says. It is a hugely important air base for us Geoff MorellPentagon spokesman
The announcement comes at a critical moment, just as the new administration of US President Barack Obama plans a sharp increase in the number of American troops in Afghanistan.The announcement comes at a critical moment, just as the new administration of US President Barack Obama plans a sharp increase in the number of American troops in Afghanistan.
For Russia, on the other hand, it is a significant diplomatic victory as it seeks to reassert its influence in all former Soviet republics and beyond, our correspondent says.For Russia, on the other hand, it is a significant diplomatic victory as it seeks to reassert its influence in all former Soviet republics and beyond, our correspondent says.
'Right price''Right price'
In Moscow, President Bakiyev said his government "has made the decision on ending the term for the American base on the territory of Kyrgyzstan". President Bakiyev said on Tuesday that his government had "made the decision on ending the term for the American base on the territory of Kyrgyzstan".
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Kyrgyzstan 'to shut' US air base
He said the Manas base - set up in 2001 to assist the US military operation against al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan - was only meant to be open for two years at the most.He said the Manas base - set up in 2001 to assist the US military operation against al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan - was only meant to be open for two years at the most.
The US base has been the focus of local protests
But perhaps more importantly, he made it clear the Americans had not been willing to pay what Bishkek regards as the right price to keep the base open, our correspondent says.But perhaps more importantly, he made it clear the Americans had not been willing to pay what Bishkek regards as the right price to keep the base open, our correspondent says.
He adds that now the Russian government has stepped in with a huge financial package for Kyrgygstan - $2bn in loans and another $150m in aid. The Russian government has stepped in with a huge financial package for Kyrgyzstan - $2bn in loans and another $150m in aid.
'Political positioning''Political positioning'
In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morell said active negotiations were under way with Bishkek on the Manas base. US officials appear not to have known about Mr Bakiyev's decision, with a US embassy spokesman telling reporters on Wednesday: "The embassy does not know anything about this at the moment."
"It is a hugely important air base for us. It provides us with a launching off point to provide supplies to our forces in Afghanistan." In a statement, the embassy said: "We have been in discussions with Kyrgyz authorities on the future of Manas air base. These discussions will continue."
"We are hopeful that we can continue our good relationship with the Kyrgyz government, and can continue to use Manas," Mr Morrell said.
Meanwhile, Colonel Greg Julian, US spokesman in Afghanistan, told the Associated Press that Mr Bakiyev's statement was "political positioning".Meanwhile, Colonel Greg Julian, US spokesman in Afghanistan, told the Associated Press that Mr Bakiyev's statement was "political positioning".
Last month, the top US military commander for the Middle East and Central Asia, Gen David Petraeus, held talks in Bishkek about the future of Manas.Last month, the top US military commander for the Middle East and Central Asia, Gen David Petraeus, held talks in Bishkek about the future of Manas.
He said afterwards that the closure of the base had not been discussed.He said afterwards that the closure of the base had not been discussed.