US, Japan relations unaffected by PM's resignation: US

WASHINGTON": The White House said Wednesday Japan was one of America's "best friends" in the world, and that the relationship would not be adversely affected by the departure of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Hatoyama stepped down after a brief tenure disrupted by a political and diplomatic row over a US air base in Japan, after taking office vowing to forge a more equal relationship with Washington.

"We respect the Japanese political process and Prime Minister Hatoyama's decision to step down," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

"The selection of Japan's next prime minister is a matter for the Japanese people and political process.

"The US-Japan bilateral relationship is very strong and deeply rooted in our common interests and values.

"Our alliance has flourished under each Japanese prime minister and US president for the past half century and will continue to strengthen in the years to come," Gibbs said.

Earlier, Gibbs's deputy Bill Burton told reporters that Japan was "one of our best friends in the world and that alliance is not going to change as a result of any change in leadership in that country."

"We'll watch the political process take its course and be waiting like everybody else to see who the next prime minister will be," Burton said on Air Force One as Obama flew to Pittsburgh.