Putin, Bush discuss reliff efforts in Iraq

In a telephone conversation Monday with his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, President Vladimir Putin of Russia underscored the necessity of averting the humanitarian disaster that the military action in the Gulf was likely to entail, the Kremlin press service reports.

The two presidents exchanged opinions on the current U.S.-led war against Iraq, with the Russian leader placing particular emphasis on the humanitarian implications of that war. President Putin reiterated Russia's commitment to searching for peaceful ways to settle the Iraqi crisis and once again stressed the need for the Coalition forces to spare civilian lives.

Messrs. Putin and Bush also discussed some aspects of the relations between their two nations.