Bishkek/Moscow - Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Friday signed a decree giving the United States 180 days clear out of its only air base in Central Asia.

The decree terminating the base, which is crucial to supplying US and NATO operations in nearby Afghanistan, was overwhelmingly approved by the country's parliament on Thursday.

The US Embassy in Bishkek it had not received an official notice on the base closure.

The announcement is a blow to US President Barack Obama's plans to boost operations in Afghanistan. Just days ago, on Tuesday, he ordered 17,000 more forces to Afghanistan to combat a growing Taliban insurgency.

The decision may also sour relations between the new US administration and Russia. On February 3, the Russian daily Kommersant reported that Moscow offered Bishkek financial incentives to close the air base.

Russia has denied that its aid to Kyrgyzstan is related to Bishkek's policy on the US air base.

Washington took the news in stride, saying contingency plans were already underway.

On Friday, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan agreed to allow NATO to move supplies through their territories to Afghanistan, the Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing a US military officer in the Tajik capital.

"Tajikistan has allowed (NATO) to use its railways and roads to transit non-military goods to Afghanistan," Rear Admiral Mark Harnitchek of the US Transportation Command told Interfax.

The United States will ship between 50 and 200 containers of building supplies, medicines, and drinking water a week through both countries into northern Afghanistan, he said.

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

While Moscow had first approved 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. (dpa)