US seals military base deal with Bulgaria

Under the deal, the US will deploy 2,500 soldiers on short rotations to Bulgaria as it draws down tens of thousands of troops from Cold War bases in Europe and Asia.

"The agreement indeed will enhance our cooperation, allowing the shared use of Bulgarian training facilities and strengthening our ability to operate militarily," said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after a signing ceremony on the sidelines of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Sofia.

Bulgaria, an ex-communist country of 7.7 million, has been eager to repay Washington for supporting its 2004 Nato membership. It has backed the US in Iraq despite widespread public opposition to the war.