The U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan will give the Central Asian republic's Defense Ministry 45 Ford Ranger pickups and 44 all-terrain vehicles (quads) as part of efforts to fight international terrorism, an embassy spokesman said on Wednesday.
The cost of the vehicles and their transportation to Kyrgyzstan amount to $1.7 million, the spokesman said.
The vehicles will boost the mobility of police units fighting international terrorism, especially in mountainous areas, the spokesman added.
The move is part of a long-term partnership between the United States and Kyrgyzstan in maintaining stability in Central Asia, with Washington already pumping over $100 million into Kyrgyzstan's military.
Kyrgyzstan was shaken by a bout of ethnic violence in June that killed some 300 people. The violence was an upshot of nationwide opposition protests in April that overthrew former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and vaulted an interim government headed by Roza Otunbayeva to power.
BISHKEK, August 25 (RIA Novosti)
