The Kyrgyz parliament voted overwhelmingly Friday to evict U.S. alliesfrom a key military base, after ordering U.S. forces out last month.
Lawmakersvoted to cancel an agreement that allows 11 allies to use the Manas airbase, a key staging point for the U.S.-led coalition fighting Talibaninsurgents in Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, Krygyz PresidentKurmanbek Bakiyev told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) he isready for a new proposal from the U.S. government on its securityefforts in Afghanistan. But Thursday, Kyrgyz officials say thegovernment will not reverse its decision to evict U.S. forces from thebase.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he believes theissue is not "closed" and the U.S. will keeping trying to reach a newagreement with Kyrgyzstan.
Manas Air Base is currently the onlyU.S. military supply route in Central Asia. Gates says the U.S. isconsidering other supply routes as an alternative.