Tajikistan says US interested in bases

Using Tajik bases would save mid-air refuelling

		Catherine Davis BBC Central Asia correspondent

The Tajik President, Emomali Rahmonov, has confirmed the United States is considering the use of air bases in Tajikistan for its military campaign in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Mr Rahmonov said three were currently being assessed and, if judged adequate, one or two of them could be used.

Mr Rahmonov was speaking at a joint news conference in the capital, Dushanbe, after meeting the Turkish President, Ahmed Necdet Sezer.

The two leaders also signed a joint declaration pledging to work together to combat terrorism and illegal drug-trafficking.

Speculation

Since the visit of the United States Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, to Tajikistan last weekend, there has been speculation about the air bases.

The two leaders have pledged to fight terrorism

The Pentagon said its experts were looking at three possibilities: Kulyab and Kurgan-Tyube in the south of the country and, further north, Khodjand.

Now Mr Rahmonov has confirmed this and said it is up to Washington to evaluate their condition.

He said no agreements about their use had been signed yet.

Broad-based government

As a further sign of the changes which have swept this region in recent weeks, Mr Rahmonov spoke openly of his country's support for the opposition Northern Alliance.

But both he and the Turkish leader underlined the importance of a broad-based government for Afghanistan.

President Sezer said all ethnic groups should be included - including Pashtuns, the Taleban's main ethnic base.

He said a government should be established without outside interference, that the future of Afghanistan was a matter for Afghans to decide.

Turkey wanted to see Afghanistan as a developed and independent country, he said.

Ankara has long had links with this region.

It sees that in its position as a bridge between East and West, it could have a unique role to play in the current situation.