U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday discussed by telephone with Australian Prime Minister John Howard on global and regional issues, the White House said.

"President Bush spoke with Prime Minister Howard of Australia this morning in a wide ranging call on global and regional issues, " national security council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

"They discussed the situations in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, and Iran (and) they affirmed their optimism that the international community can resolve these difficult issues by maintaining unity of purpose," Johndroe said.

Bush "thanked the Prime Minister for the decision of Australia to send additional troops to help secure the peace in Afghanistan and for Australia's steadfast and important commitment in Iraq," the spokesman said.

Australia, a staunch ally of the United States, has about 1,400 troops involved in Iraqi operations.

In February, Bush and Howard talked over telephone on issues of the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua