Bush congratulates Australia's Howard on win

WATERLOO, Iowa, Oct 9 (AFP) - President George W. Bush said Saturday that he called Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a backer of the war in Iraq, to congratulate him on his re-election.
"I have congratulated Australian Prime Minister John Howard today," Bush said during a campaign rally in Waterloo, Iowa.
"The president will always work with our friends and allies.
"We build strong coalitions," he said.
Bush recalled that Howard joined the US-led coalition to invade Iraq in March, 2003 and is a US ally.
According to local media, Howard's conservative coalition will begin is fourth term with 87 of the 150 seats in the lower house of the legislature, five more than in the prior term.