Kyrgyzstan won't reverse decision to shut down US base

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BISHKEK, Mar 5: (Reuters): Kyrgyzstan will not reverse its decision to shut down a United States military air base, which is key for Washington's war in Afghanistan, a spokesman for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Thursday.

The BBC quoted Wednesday Bakiyev as saying "the doors are not closed" for talks on the future of the air base, which Washington used to supply troops operating in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Bakiyev says his government is still open to negotiations over the US air base that the country has ordered closed.

The base is an important transit and support facility for military operations in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan last month issued an eviction notice, saying the United States had to vacate within 180 days.