Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct 11, SPA --U.S. Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice said the United States does not need newmilitary bases to fight the war on terrorism, and told U.S.troops stationed in former Soviet countries that they arehelping safeguard young democracies. Rice was meeting Tuesday with the new leadership ofKyrgyzstan, The Associated Press reported. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is pursuing further politicalreform, and has pledged to pursue an independent foreignpolicy. "Kyrgyzstan itself has just been through an extraordinaryrevolution. An extraordinary new day is before the Kyrgyzpeople if they can deliver on the democratic promise," Rice told some of the approximately 1,000 U.S., French andSpanish troops stationed at a base. Manas Air Base near the capital of this Central Asiannation will stay, but another base nearby in Uzbekistanwill close. En route to the region Monday, Rice told reporters thatthe United States can live without the Uzbek base and isnot seeking additional real estate in the region. U.S.officials say military installations in and aroundAfghanistan will handle the additional load. U.S. troops will be in Afghanistan for a long time tocome, and the difficulty of their mission was underscoredTuesday when suspected Taliban rebels ambushed a policeconvoy in southern Afghanistan and killed 19 officers. The Kyrgyz base Rice toured is also hosting some reliefand supply efforts for Pakistan, where a weekend earthquakekilled thousands. Rice may change her itinerary to visitPakistan this week.--SPA1138 Local Time 0838 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/295534