Afghan, French Presidents Thank Kyrgyzstan For Base

BISHKEK (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiev has received letters from Afghan President Hamid Karzai and French President Nicolas Sarkozy thanking Kyrgyzstan for allowing U.S. troops to continue using a base in the Central Asian country for supporting efforts in Afghanistan.

Sarkozy said "Kyrgyzstan has underscored its role as a partner in the larger effort to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan."

Karzai's letter thanked the Kyrgyz government and people for their demonstration of solidarity with Afghanistan.