Kyrgyz U-turn on US base mooted

Kyrgystan President Bakiyev said that he is open for negotiating a deal with the US regarding use of their airbase. What this means is that if the US wants to continue to use Kyrgyzstan as a supply route to Afghanistan it better pony up more than Russia's $2.1 billion aid to Kyrgyzstan. BBC

Kyrgyzstan's president has told the BBC "the doors are not closed" concerning talks over the US airbase which is due to close.

The Manas base is critical to US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev said negotiations with Washington would have to take a different format, and cover new conditions of use.

His latest remarks, the first since announcing the closure last month, have yet to draw an American response.

President Bakiyev said the old agreement on the use of the base was no longer valid but Kyrgyzstan was open to negotiation.