U.S. military flies out last plane from Uzbek air base

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- The U.S. military flew its last plane Monday out of an air base in Uzbekistan that had been an important hub for American military operations in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said. In July, hard-line President Islam Karimov ordered the U.S. troops to leave the base within six months after Washington joined international condemnation of a bloody government crackdown in the eastern city of Andijan that human rights groups say killed hundreds of civilians. "The last plane left the air base in Karshi-Khanabad" on Monday afternoon, U.S. military attache Gregory White said in Tashkent. A small number of personnel remained, as the U.S. military wrapped up its activity.

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