The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it has delivered Washington a proposal demanding a much higher rent for U.S. use of a military base in the country, according to reports reaching here from Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital.

The proposal, which was handed over to the U.S. embassy in Kyrgyzstan, asked Washington to considerably raise the rent for the use of the Manas airport on the outskirts of Bishkek and compensate for environmental damages, among other conditions reflecting Kyrgyzstan's national interests, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

During his meetings with senior U.S. officials last year, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said the rent for the Manas airport was too low and not in compliance with the interests of Kyrgyzstan. He demanded a rent hike.

The United States has used the air base to support combat operations in Afghanistan since December, 2001. It has become increasingly important for Washington since neighboring Uzbekistan ordered the United States to vacate a base there.

Some 1,500 troops from the United States and other NATO member states as well as fighter planes are stationed at the Manas airport.

Source: Xinhua