U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday it was regrettable that the government of Kyrgyzstan is considering the closure of its Mana air base, which is vital to the resupply of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Speaking with reporters at the State Department after a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Clinton said that regardless of what final decision the Kyrgyz government makes about the air base, the United States will proceed with its plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan. Clinton declined to comment on reported U.S. interest in making new arrangements with Uzbekistan for supply routes into Afghanistan.
