Clinton: 'I broke my elbow, not my larynx'

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The cast on her elbow is finally off, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wasted no time Thursday swinging back at media reports that she is being sidelined by the White House in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

At a question-and-answer session at the State Department, Clinton drew a laugh with her quip that "I broke my elbow, not my larynx." She told reporters she is consistently involved both in shaping and implementing policy.

Clinton is beginning a week-long trip to India and Thailand.

She broke her elbow last month, requiring several weeks in a cast as well as hours of physical therapy, and forcing her to cancel two international trips and curtail her public schedule.