Kyrgyz leader approves U.S. deal for Manas

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news/2009/07/ap_manas_deal_070709

Kyrgyz leader approves U.S. deal for Manas

The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 8, 2009 9:41:03 EDT

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan's president has signed into a law an agreement allowing U.S. military forces to continue using a crucial air base to ship supplies to troops in Afghanistan.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's office said in a statement Tuesday that the deal approved last week will take immediate effect.

The decision reverses an eviction order announced by Bakiyev in February that would have kicked U.S. forces out of the Manas Air Base by August. The order stunned Washington.

Being allowed to keep using Manas gives a much-needed boost to the U.S.-led coalition as it ramps up military operations against Taliban and al-Qaida militants in Afghanistan.

Under the new deal, the U.S. will pay Kyrgyzstan $60 million in annual rent for the facility, up from $17.4 million.

Discuss: Kyrgyz leader approves U.S. deal for Manas

MISHA JAPARIDZE / ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. soldiers patrol during American-French joint exercises at Manas Air Base, located near the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. The U.S. and Kyrgyzstan have reached a deal for use of a Kyrgyz airport to transport U.S. non-lethal military supplies to Afghanistan, a senior Kyrgyz official said.

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