Obama phones British, Canadian and Saudi leaders

WASHINGTON -
President Barack Obama phoned the leaders of Britain, Canada and Saudi Arabia on Friday, reaching out to key U.S. allies during his first days in office.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama spoke with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Saudi King Abdullah, along with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Obama and Brown discussed their countries' relationship, the need to confront the global economic crisis and situations in Gaza and Afghanistan. Obama also told Brown he hopes to attend April's G-20 Summit in London, the White House said.

"The tone of the conversation was friendly and substantive," Brown's Downing Street office said in a statement from London.

Obama and Harper again talked about the countries' friendship and economies, Afghanistan and climate change, the White House said.

"They had an initial discussion on the agenda which will include the economic situation globally, in our two countries and specifically in the auto sector. They also discussed the importance of the environment and energy as well as international issues including Afghanistan," said Dimitri Soudas, a Harper spokesman.

Another Harper spokesman, Kory Teneycke, said the call lasted 15 minutes.

Obama plans to make his first international trip as president to Canada, a key ally that shares a border with the United States. The trip will keep with tradition, with most U.S. presidents making Canada their first stop.

And the White House said Obama spoke about the U.S.-Saudi relationship during their call. Obama also asked the Saudis to support an effort to stop weapons from being smuggled into Gaza, weeks after Israel curtailed its military offensive against the Palestinian territory.

Earlier this week, Obama talked with Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders about the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

In his discussion with Obama, Ban "underlined the importance of the U.S.-U.N. partnership and stressed the need for the two to work closely together on major issues like the global economic crisis, climate change, food security and in the resolution of regional crises, particularly those in the Middle East and Africa," U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

The two leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to reform the United Nations "and the organization's need for adequate political support and funding," Montas said.

"The secretary-general was encouraged by the U.S. president's assurance of strong support as the organization makes further progress in this direction," she said.

Ban later spoke to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Montas said, and discussed food security, the peace process in Sudan's conflict-wracked Darfur region, climate change and U.N. management reforms.