U.S. Airbase Lease Extended in Kyrgyzstan

The United States – Kyrgyzstan Airbase lease, which was to expire in July, will be renewed for another year according to the interim Kyrgyz deputy leader Mr. Tekebayev.  Normally this would require a vote by parliament, but since there is no parliament following the ouster of the former leader Mr. Bakiyev, the position of the current government is that the lease will renew automatically.  The announcement came after Bakiyev, in an apparent effort to avoid civil war, left Kyrgyzstan for Kazakhstan.  However, the current Kyrgyz leader, Ms. Otunbayeva, has vowed to bring him to justice.  In the meantime, the Manas Airbase will remain a launching post for U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Read more at: BBC