Kyrgyzstan says U.S. air base decision is final

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Fri Feb 6, 2009 5:30am EST

By Olga Dzyubenko

BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan said on Friday its decision to shut a
U.S. air base was final, dealing a blow to Washington's efforts to
retain what has been a major staging post for U.S. forces fighting in
Afghanistan.

The United States said it was still in talks with Kyrgyzstan about
keeping the Manas base in the impoverished former Soviet republic and
traditional Russian ally.

"The decision has been made," said Kyrgyz government spokesman Aibek
Sultangaziyev. "The U.S. embassy and the (Kyrgyz) Foreign Ministry are
exchanging opinions on this, but there are no discussions on keeping
the base."
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http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5151GN20090206?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

The closure of the US base in Kyrgyzstan would be a major strategic blow for US interests in the area. 

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced the closure of the base
this week after securing more than $2 billion in financial aid and
credit from Russia at talks in Moscow.

The game is on people.