sentences:  One of the most serious events that Purnell had to deal with was the May 2005 Andijan massacre, in which the Uzbek government killed hundreds, possibly thousands, of civilians.Calls from Western governments, including the US, for an international investigation prompted a major shift in Uzbek foreign policy favoring closer relations with Asian nations instead of with the West.In July of that year, the Uzbek government ordered the closing of the United States air base in Karshi-Khanabad, which was accomplished by November.