Peru offers air base access to US - officials

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) Peru has offered the United States the use of its air fields for counternarcotics operations in Latin American after Ecuador refused to renew Washington's lease on one of its bases, US officials say.

With Colombia's earlier offer to discuss air sites, the US military now has two potential alternatives to Ecuador's Manta base.

Negotiations are in early stages, according to the US officials, who stressed that Ecuador was not off the table despite President Rafael Correa's publicly stated opposition.

''Colombia and Peru have offered but I don't think Ecuador's really closed,'' said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Counternarcotics operations have become one of the US military's primary missions in Latin America. Colombia and Peru, the world's top cocaine producers, receive the largest amount of US military aid in the region.

Ecuador, which sits between them, has become a key transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States.

Correa, who has called US President George W Bush a ''dimwit,'' has refused to extend the Pentagon's lease on the Manta air base used by US aircraft to help catch South American drug runners.

But US government officials say the Ecuadorean Defence Ministry has indicated room for negotiation.

One official said Ecuador thought it had the Pentagon ''over a barrel'' before the United States received offers from Colombia and Peru.

An agreement with Peru could involve US financial assistance for de-mining efforts and other help with border security programs -- both needs voiced by Lima to Washington.

Reuters RJ RS2259