New Delhi: US President George W Bush on March 4 spoke to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and exchanged views on the Iraq situation, ahead of crucial UN vote on a second resolution seeking use of force against Baghdad to disarm it.

During the seven-minute telephonic conversation, they touched on efforts in the UN Security Council to frame another resolution regarding compliance by Iraq on disarming weapons of mass destruction, official sources said.

The US has been pressing for a second resolution seeking the UN mandate for possible military action against Iraq. The resolution is expected to be put to vote on March12.

New Delhi has advocated peaceful resolution to the Iraq crisis while asking Baghdad to fully implement the provisions of the Security Council.

During the conversation, India and Pakistan issue was briefly touched upon, the sources said. The Prime Minister conveyed the Indian position that it was willing to resume dialogue with Pakistan on all issues when cross-border terrorism was stopped by that country.

Bush assured him that US continues to apply pressure on Pakistan on the matter of cross-border terrorism, particularly asking it to ensure that infiltration does not increase as the snows melt, the sources said.

PTI