Kyrgyz parliament to vote Thursday on U.S. base

[unhappycamper]

Kyrgyz parliament to vote Thursday on U.S. base
By Leila Saralayeva - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 17, 2009 21:14:13 EST

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan’s parliament said Feb. 17 it will vote this week on a bill to close a U.S. air base that provides key support to military operations in Afghanistan, as the top U.S. commander for the region visited Uzbekistan in search of new supply routes for forces fighting the Taliban.

President Barack Obama’s call for an increased military focus on Afghanistan could be hampered both by the potential closure of the Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan and increased attacks on the main land route for supplies through Pakistan.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev unexpectedly called this month for the closure of the Manas base, a transit point for 15,000 troops and 500 tons of cargo each month to and from Afghanistan. It also is a base for military refueling planes.

The decision is expected to easily pass parliament, which is dominated by the president’s party.

A vote had not been expected until March, which would have given Washington more time to try to change Bakiyev’s mind. But the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday approved the order and set a Thursday vote for the lower house.


Rest of article at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_kyrgyzstan_base_021709/%2e