Kerry calls U.S. government shutdown a brief disruption

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) talks with Robert Wang (R), the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in China, during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali island October 5, 2013. REUTERS/Beawiharta

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - The partial shutdown of the U.S. government, which entered its fifth day on Saturday, is a "momentary episode" and does not change the U.S. commitment to Asia or elsewhere, Secretary of State John Kerry said.

Kerry is acting as stand-in for President Barack Obama who cancelled a tour of Asia, including a visit to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, because of the stalemate in Washington.