Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan deal on gas, water

The prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Kurumanbek Bakiev and Otkir Sultanov have reached agreement on the resumption of gas and water deliveries.

The leaders said, after talks in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, that Uzbekistan would resume deliveries of gas to Kyrgyzstan over the next few days.

In return Kyrgyzstan will start collecting water in its reservoirs for Uzbek irrigation needs.

Water levels in the reservoirs are at a critical level, however, and deliveries may be delayed until the summer.

The ministers also discussed disagreements over border demarcation and agreed they should be solved in accordance with international norms.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service