U.S. Army sends 1,000 infantry troops to Uzbekistan

AP Military WriterTASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) -- The U.S. Army dispatched about a thousand infantry soldiers to this former Soviet state Friday as the Uzbek leader announced he had granted permission for U.S. forces to use an air base in his country, senior American officials said.

At a joint news conference with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, President Islam Karimov said the air base could be used to base U.S. transport planes, helicopters and troops for search-and-rescue missions.