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U.S. signs anthrax deal with Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (CNN) -- The United States and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement to remove large quantities of anthrax from a germ-warfare test site used by the former Soviet Union, Western sources in Tashkent told CNN Tuesday.

The site located in a remote island in the Aral Sea was used by the Russian military until 1992 and was the largest biological testing site in the former Soviet Union.

"I do not know how much anthrax is buried there, and I do not really think anybody knows," said the Western source, adding that the Russians tried to get rid of a large quantity of anthrax spores years after abandoning the site.

Under the deal, signed Monday in the Uzbek capital, the United States pledged to spend $6 million to dismantle, clean up and decontaminate the site, the source said.

In addition Washington will offer additional help to upgrade security at sites where anthrax and other deadly germs are stored.

Uzbek support

The Aral Sea is drying up and is considered an environmental threat.

Uzbekistan has emerged as one of the leading regional supporters of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan

It has offered U.S. forces the use of a military airbase close to the Afghan border.

Uzbek officials were not available in Tashkent to comment, but the deal signed indicates the two countries are taking very seriously the threat that terrorist organizations or rogue nations could try to obtain anthrax spores kept at location poorly secured.

Uzbek officials have said that the Russians refused to disclose exactly what biological agents are stored on the island.

They also note that the Aral Sea has retreated and the island is now connected to the mainland.

That leaves open the possibility that animals going in an out of the abandoned facility could spread the chemical agents stored there.