New Delhi: Hours after he sought international backing for a fresh United States-sponsored United Nations resolution on multi-national troops deployment in Iraq, President George W Bush telephoned Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on September 8 evening and exchanged views on the situation in the war ravaged country.

During the five-minute conversation, Bush and Vajpayee also discussed developments in the preparation for World Trade Organisation (WTO) Cancun Ministerial meeting, official sources said.

They said the two leaders agreed that India and US delegations at Cancun would remain in touch with each other on this matter.

Bush's telephone call to Vajpayee came a day before US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca arrives in New Delhi for talks with Indian officials, which is expected to cover the Iraq issue.

PTI