U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday to discuss regional developments, a White House spokesman said.

The two leaders wished each other a Merry Christmas and noted the progress in bilateral relations over the past year, said the spokesman, Allen Abney.

"They also briefly discussed developments in the region and the work ahead in 2006, including reaffirming their commitment to a free trade agreement," he added.

As a close Washington ally, Uribe is running for re-election next year after the country's Constitutional Court last month approved his candidacy.

The United States has provided billions of dollars of military aid to the Colombian government, which is fighting rampant drug trafficking and a 41-year-old insurgency.

Source: Xinhua