TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan indicated yesterday that it was reconsidering the future of a U.S. air base there, threatening a key support base for the American effort in neighboring Afghanistan.

This follows an increasing chill in relations between Washington and the authoritarian Uzbek leader Islam Karimov.

The Foreign Ministry said the air base at Karshi-Khanabad was only intended for combat operations in Afghanistan during the over-throw of the Taliban after 9/11. "Any other prospects for a U.S. military presence in Uzbekistan were not considered by the Uzbek side." the ministry said.

Uzbekistan also said the U.S. hadn't paid takeoff and landing fees and had offered little compensation for costs incurred in guarding the base, replacing infrastructure and inconveniencing civilians.

According to the U.S. military, Uzbekistan hosts at least 800 U.S. troops and 1,200 U.S.-led troops are in Kyrgyzstan.