Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 6, 2009

Kyrgyz Lawmakers Vote to Oust US Allies from Base
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=22B40D2:A6F02AD83191E1600757477870481145C030207A0BD70133&
 
Manas air base is key staging point for US-led coalition fighting
Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan 
U.S. soldiers open gates of military base located within Manas civilian
airport, near Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, 04 Feb 2009The Kyrgyz
parliament voted overwhelmingly Friday to evict U.S. allies
from a key military base, after ordering U.S. forces out last month.
Lawmakers
voted to cancel an agreement that allows 11 allies to use the Manas air
base, a key staging point for the U.S.-led coalition fighting Taliban
insurgents in Afghanistan. Earlier this week, Krygyz President
Kurmanbek Bakiyev told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) he is
ready for a new proposal from the U.S. government on its security
efforts in Afghanistan. But Thursday, Kyrgyz officials say the
government will not reverse its decision to evict U.S. forces from the
base. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he believes the
issue is not "closed" and the U.S. will keeping trying to reach a new
agreement with Kyrgyzstan. Manas Air Base is currently the only
U.S. military supply route in Central Asia. Gates says the U.S. is
considering other supply routes as an alternative.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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