Bishkek/Moscow  - The Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan is to allow the United States to continue using an air base on its territory for anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan, but for a significantly higher fee than before, reports said Tuesday.

Washington has agreed to pay 60 million dollars a year for use of the base in Manas, near the capital Bishkek. That compares with the current rate of 17 millon dollars, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbaev said.

A package of altogether 170 million dollars was put forward that would also include development aid and funding for the fight against terrorism and drugs in Kyrgyzstan.

The deal was concluded against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in Afghanistan. In February, Bishkek announced it would cease cooperation with Washington and shut the base by mid-August.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, on a visit to Russia last week, appealed to his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek Bakijev for more assistance in international efforts to fight Taliban militants.

Observers saw Bishkek's planned closure of the Manas air base, where 1,500 soldiers are stationed as a concession by Kyrgyzstan to Russia and neighbouring China.

Moscow granted the impoverished former Soviet republic loans of around 2 billion dollars after the decision was announced. Russia recently, however, pledge its support to the US for operations in Afghanistan.(dpa)