Clinton: Kyrgyz Move On U.S. Base `Regrettable`

Clinton said the decision on the Manas air base would not affect U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday it was "regrettable" that Kyrgyzstan was considering the closure of a U.S. air base there but that negotiations were continuing on the issue.

Speaking at a joint news conference with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Clinton said the decision on the Manas air base would not affect U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

"It is regrettable that this is under consideration by the government of Kyrgyzstan. We hope to have further discussions with them," Clinton told reporters.

Kyrgyzstan's parliament is set to vote next week on whether to shut a U.S. air base that is an important staging post for U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan.

"We will proceed in a very effective manner no matter what the outcome of the Kyrgyzstan government's deliberations might be," she said of U.S. operations in Afghanistan.