Kyrgyzstan: Central Asia keystone

Since Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the Soviet Union 19 years ago, the Central Asian country has been strategically important to both the US and Russia.

Both countries have military bases there and the US airbase in Manas is used to transport vital supplies to support the war effort in Afghanistan.

Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan reports.

CORRECTION – May 4: This video report from April 8 incorrectly identifies a man as Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the recently ousted president. The footage is actually of Askar Akayev, a former president ousted from power in 2005.