In an interview with the BBC, Bakiyev said a new deal could be forged that would reverse an order he gave last month to close the Manas airbase, a vital support post for operations in Afghanistan.

"If the United States wants to maintain its airbase at Manas, the doors for talks are open.... In this case, the conditions of the agreement would be different," Bakiyev said, according to a transcript issued by his office earlier.

"Negotiations on the US airbase at Manas could be renewed," he added.

Bakiyev said he understood the need to stabilise Afghanistan and hinted he wanted a better offer than the current US financial package.

"Kyrgyzstan... is interested in stabilisation of Afghanistan. We're ready to look at new American proposals.

"We deserve more respect.... Our partners, whether Russia or the United States, should be able to listen to our opinion," he said.

The Central Asian state ordered the closure last month in a move analysts described as linked to Russian opposition to US military moves in the region and a Russian offer of 2.3 billion dollars in aid and loans for Kyrgyzstan.

The closure order came at a bad time for the United States and other Western nations using the base as President Barack Obama is stepping up operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Later on Thursday, Kyrgyz officials sought to maintain pressure on the United States, with a presidential spokesman implying Bakiyev's comments were of a more general nature and the base would still close.

"Kyrgyzstan is not changing its decision on the closure of the US airbase," the spokesman, Almas Turdumamatov, told AFP.

The United States has been paying 63 million dollars annually in fees and rent for the base, along with 87 million dollars in other forms of aid, the top US general in the region, David Petraeus, said in January.

Washington has also offered a cargo ramp to Kyrgyzstan as a "gift" so the airport adjoining the military base can become an international cargo hub, the base commander, Colonel Christopher Bence, told journalists last month.

Amid the uncertainty, US military officials have been holding talks with other Central Asian states that some commentators say could lead to Washington using their facilities instead.

Bishkek-based analyst Paul Quinn-Judge of the International Crisis Group said Bakiyev was clearly ready for a deal that would help avert economic crisis in his country.

He said Bakiyev appeared confident Russia would not react too harshly to a continued American presence despite its instinctive suspicion of US moves in the region.

"The half-hints and body language of all sides make it clear that talks are still under way.... The hints coming out of the US side are that they are preparing an offer, or maybe already haggling," said Quinn-Judge.

"The fact the Kyrgyz are pushing for a better deal indicates they believe or know the Russians will not come down too hard on them."

Russian officials have made clear they too are concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, while heavily criticising the US strategy there.

The base at Manas is home to about 1,000 US military personnel and a small number of French and Spanish personnel.

It is used for ferrying tens of thousands of coalition soldiers in and out of Afghanistan each year and as a home for refuelling craft that top up combat planes in the air over Afghanistan.

The United States is simultaneously trying to develop new routes for delivering non-lethal supplies such as building materials to Afghanistan via other states in the region, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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