Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ASIA-PACIFIC
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Monday, 21 November 2005, 18:24 GMT

Last US plane leaves Uzbek base

US air base in Karshi-Khanabad, Uzbekistan The US has flown its last plane out of an air base in Uzbekistan that has been an important staging point for US military operations in Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan in July gave the US six months to leave the base, after it joined international condemnation of the suppression of a May uprising.

In a ceremony, troops lowered the US flag and handed to Uzbek officials the keys to the Karshi-Khanabad base.

Some personnel remain at the base, which the US has occupied since 2001.

Tensions

"We are still performing some small operations on the base," US Central Command spokesman Joe Vermette told the Associated Press news agency.

A Pentagon spokesman said troops had been withdrawing from the base over the past several months. It is not clear when the last troops will leave.

The US and other Western countries called for an international investigation into the events in the Uzbek city of Andijan earlier this year.

The Uzbek government says 187 people, mostly "terrorist organisers", died during the unrest. Human rights groups say 500 or more civilians may have been shot by Uzbek security forces.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Rice's soft tone in Central Asia (10 Oct 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
US Senate blocks Uzbek payment (06 Oct 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
US loses key base in Central Asia (31 Jul 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
US senators push for Uzbek probe (29 May 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
US hardens stance on Uzbekistan (16 May 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
Country profile: Uzbekistan (15 Nov 05 |  Country profiles )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Uzbek Government
US Department of Defense
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©