Moscow - Kyrgyzstan's parliament approved on Thursday a government decision to shut down a US air base on its territory, which has been a crucial for supplying US and NATO troops in Afghanistan.

The decision was overwhelmingly passed with 78 votes for and 1 vote against, Russian news agencies reported.

The United States has 180 days to close the airbase in the Central Asian state, the head of the country's security council, Adukhan Madumarov said earlier.

There has been speculation that Russia had intensified pressure on the former Soviet republic to terminate the lease.

While Moscow had approved the setting up the base in 2001 to support operations in Afghanistan, Russian officials have long been suspicious of the US military presence in the region.

Russia has denied allegations that a two-billion-dollar aid package to financially-strapped Kyrgyzstan acted as an incentive to speed up the closure.

The closing of the Manas air base, currently the only US air base in Central Asia, is a blow to US President Barack Obama's stated aim of a military boost to operations in Afghanistan.

Russia has agreed to allow supply routes for NATO and US troops to Afghanistan through its southern territory. (dpa)