An advance contingent of 190 French military personnel have arrived in Kyrgyzstan to help prepare an airport for use by the anti-terrorist coalition in Afghanistan.

The commander of the French unit (Col. Saster Kochanowski), today (Saturday), told reporters at Bishkek's Manas Airport that the French advance force included doctors, cooks, engineers and other support personnel.

The commander said the troops are joining 16 French servicemen already at the airport. They will help in preparation for the arrival of another 200 members of the French contingent and six Mirage jet fighters. He said a total of 450 French troops would eventually be stationed at Manas.

Two hundred Americans are deployed at the base, which is located about 30 kilometers outside Bishkek. It will eventually house 3,000 U.S. troops.

The French jets will make flights to Afghanistan to support coalition anti-terrorist operations.

Russia, the dominant power in Central Asia, has expressed surprise that the anti-terror coalition is still establishing bases in the region, months after the Taleban was ousted from power in Afghanistan. But Russia has not objected to the deployments.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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