PRIVATEPresident Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell told Kyrgyzstan's president on Monday that his nation's support of the U.S. war on terror does not give him a green light to undermine democracy. White House spokesman Sean McCormack said Bush met with President Askar Akayev for 45 minutes and "talked about the importance of political and economic reforms in Kyrgyzstan, including human rights." "The president commented that building on recent progress on these fronts was critical in Kyrgyzstan's future development," the spokesman said. Akayev, who met separately with Bush and Powell, said he discussed "the domestic developments in the Kyrgyz Republic and the steps we are taking toward the promotion of democratization." "We are greatly satisfied with our talks with President Bush," Akayev said outside the White House. Bush and Powell thanked Akayev for backing the U.S.-led combat in Afghanistan, including the stationing of U.S. troops at Manas airport, Kyrgyzstan's main civilian airport. After Akayev listed democratic reforms under way, Powell responded, "We look forward to seeing those," according to State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. In a joint statement, Bush and Akayev spoke of the need to promote human rights and of "our desire to strengthen democratic institutions and processes, such as a civil society, independent media, local government, political pluralism and free and fair elections." (AP)