Across Asia: Kyrgyzstan

Vote on US base tomorrow

Kyrgyzstan's parliament said it will vote tomorrow on a bill to close a US air base that provides key support to military operations in Afghanistan, as the top US commander for the region visited Uzbekistan in search of new supply routes for forces fighting the Taliban.

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 be easily passed by the parliament.