WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush and Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar on Thursday discussed efforts to draw Iraqis to weekend elections despite a violent campaign by insurgents, the White House said.
"President Yawar talked about the ongoing efforts to encourage broad participation by all Iraqis in the election, and ...they also discussed the security situation briefly," said spokesman Scott McClellan.
Bush mentioned a Wednesday interview with Al-Arabiya satellite television in which he urged Iraqis to vote, and also "talked about his belief that Iraqi forces would be assuming more and more responsibility for Iraq's security as they improve their capabilities," said the spokesman.
McClellan also pointed to comments from European Union officials "talking about how they want to be more involved in helping the Iraqi people."
McClellan also pointed to Bush's telephone conversation on Wednesday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in which they discussed the possibility of an expanded role in Iraq for world body after Sunday's elections.
01/27/2005 17:58 GMT - AFP