Kyrgyzstan: Bakiyev Formally Closes Manas Air Base

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a law ending U.S. and NATO operations at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan on April 2. Although this is not the first time Bakiyev has issued a decree to this effect, the real significance is one of timing — it comes the day before the NATO summit begins.