Regional alliance calls for US to leave Afghanistan

A regional alliance led by China and Russia called yesterday for the United States and its coalition allies in Afghanistan to set a date for withdrawing from several states in Central Asia.

The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, made up of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, urged a deadline be set for withdrawal of the foreign forces, an apparent attempt to push the US out of a region Moscow regards as part of its sphere of influence and in which China seeks a dominant role.

The US rejected the call, saying its military presence was determined by bilateral agreements. US-led forces have been at air bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan since the September 11 attacks.