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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan reports. (Apr 08, 2010)<br /><br />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.
