Around the World: Kyrgyzstan

US gets new base deal

Kyrgyzstan yesterday signed an agreement allowing the US to continue using a key air base serving American aircraft in operations in Afghanistan.

The former Soviet republic had announced in February it was closing the base after securing pledges of $2 billion in aid and credit from Russia. But after new negotiations, the US agreed to pay $180 million to Kyrgyzstan for the use of the Manas air base, which was set up by US forces when they overthrew the Taliban government in Afghanistan in late 2001.