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Kyrgyzstan MPs to debate US base Kyrgyzstan delays vote on US base
(about 3 hours later)
Kyrgyzstan's parliament is due to start debating the closure of a key US air base that supports US and Nato operations in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan's parliament has delayed a vote on whether to close a key US air base that supports US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.
The Kyrgyz government had earlier submitted a decree to parliament for the closure of the Manas base. Parliament had been due to start debating the closure of the Manas base, but officials announced the vote would be put off until later in the month.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced that the base would close on a visit to Moscow, during which he was promised more than $2bn (£1.4bn) in Russian aid. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced the closure plan on a visit to Moscow, where he was promised Russian aid.
US officials say negotiations over the lease of the base will continue.US officials say negotiations over the lease of the base will continue.
President Bakiyev said his decision came after failed attempts to secure further financial assistance from the Americans. It was not immediately clear why the vote was put on hold.
Earlier, the Kyrgyz government had submitted a decree to parliament for the closure of the base.
President Bakiyev had said his decision came after failed attempts to secure further financial assistance from the Americans.
A Kyrgyz government spokesman said the move was prompted by popular disapproval of the base.A Kyrgyz government spokesman said the move was prompted by popular disapproval of the base.
But analysts suspect that Russia played a hand in influencing his decision, the BBC's Central Asia correspondent Rayhan Demytrie reports. But analysts suspect that Russia played a hand in influencing his decision after pledging $2bn (£1.4bn) in aid, the BBC's Central Asia correspondent Rayhan Demytrie reports.
Diplomatic victoryDiplomatic victory
Manas is the only US base in Central Asia and is a vital transit point for Nato and US operations in Afghanistan. The fight against terrorism is not limited to building up military forces Russian President Dmitry Medvedev US Kyrgyz base is pressure pointManas is the only US base in Central Asia and is a vital transit point for Nato and US operations in Afghanistan. The fight against terrorism is not limited to building up military forces Russian President Dmitry Medvedev US Kyrgyz base is pressure point
The announcement comes at a critical moment, just as the new administration of US President Barack Obama plans a sharp increase in the number of American troops in Afghanistan. The move to shut the base comes at a critical moment, just as the new administration of US President Barack Obama plans a sharp increase in the number of American troops in Afghanistan.
For Russia, on the other hand, it is a significant diplomatic victory as it seeks to reassert its influence in all former Soviet republics and beyond, correspondents say. For Russia, on the other hand, its closure would be a significant diplomatic victory as it seeks to reassert its influence in all former Soviet republics and beyond, correspondents say.
Moscow has given its support for Nato re-supplying its forces in Afghanistan, but it has stopped short of agreeing to share a military presence in the former Soviet Union with the US. Moscow has given its support for Nato re-supplying its forces in Afghanistan, but has stopped short of agreeing to share a military presence in the former Soviet Union with the US.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Russia would provide "full-fledged, comprehensive cooperation with the United States and other coalition members in fighting terrorism in the region". Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Russia would provide "full-fledged, comprehensive co-operation with the United States and other coalition members in fighting terrorism in the region".
But he also appeared to criticise US policy, saying the fight against terrorism must include political as well as military components.But he also appeared to criticise US policy, saying the fight against terrorism must include political as well as military components.
"It would be good if that would help reduce the number of terrorists, but the fight against terrorism is not limited to building up military forces," he said."It would be good if that would help reduce the number of terrorists, but the fight against terrorism is not limited to building up military forces," he said.
US officials say they have received no notification of the closure, and are continuing discussions with the Kyrgyz government over the lease of the base. Financial deals
US officials said earlier they had received no notification of the closure, and were continuing discussions with the Kyrgyz government over the lease of the base.
Mr Bakiyev has said the Manas base - set up in 2001 to assist the US military operation against al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan - was only meant to be open for two years at the most.Mr Bakiyev has said the Manas base - set up in 2001 to assist the US military operation against al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan - was only meant to be open for two years at the most.
He has also made it clear the Americans had not been willing to pay what Bishkek regards as the right price to keep the base open.He has also made it clear the Americans had not been willing to pay what Bishkek regards as the right price to keep the base open.
A spokesman told the BBC that the US would have six months to close down operations after the measure was approved. A spokesman had earlier told the BBC that the US would have six months to close down operations after the measure was approved.
A number of financial deals which were secured by the Kyrgyz president on his visit to Russia are also expected to be discussed on Thursday at the parliament. A number of financial deals which were secured by the Kyrgyz president on his visit to Russia had also been expected to be discussed on Thursday at the parliament.
The Russian government promised Kyrgyzstan $2bn in loans and another $150m in aid. The majority of the $2bn is to be invested in the country's troubled energy sector.The Russian government promised Kyrgyzstan $2bn in loans and another $150m in aid. The majority of the $2bn is to be invested in the country's troubled energy sector.