U.S. Gives Kyrgyzstan Four Russian-Made Planes

(RFE/RL) PRAGUE, September 20, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S. government has given the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry with four Russian-made Antonov-2 transport planes.

The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek says in a statement the planes, which arrived in Kyrgyzstan on September 20, are part of a program to help the country and other Central Asian states fight drugs trafficking and enhance border security.

The program was launched six years ago.