BISHKEK, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - The Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan has postponed a discussion on the closure of a U.S. base in the north of the country, the party`s leader said on Wednesday.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced plans to close down the base at Manas, used to support NATO operations in nearby Afghanistan since 2001, after talks last Tuesday in Moscow, where he secured substantial financial aid from Russia.

Baktybek Beshimov said the discussion had been postponed as Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev was unable to attend.

Hearings on the closure of the base must first be held in three parliamentary issue-specific committees and also discussed by the three main parties in parliament, before going to a final parliamentary debate.

So far only the parliamentary commission on defense and security issues has approved the closure of the base.
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