Kyrgyzstan ordered the closure of a US military base solely because the US refused to pay an adequate rent for it, the Kyrgyz president has said.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev said his repeated complaints to Washington about the rental level had gone unheeded.

There had been speculation that the closure of the Manas base had been demanded by Moscow, in return for more than $2bn (ё1.4bn) in aid.

The base has served as a vital supply route for Nato forces in Afghanistan.

President Bakiyev`s announcement of the base`s closure last week surprised Washington, observers said.
sections: Politics