US President George W. Bush had a video teleconference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday about the situation in Iraq, White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

During the conversation, Bush congratulated Maliki for the just-concluded Iraq conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt and Maliki thanked Bush for his support, Snow said.

"Then they proceeded to talk about matters of mutual interest, both regional relations and also outreach within Iraq," Snow said.

Moreover, Maliki reiterated his determination to work for reconciliation within Iraq, Snow added.

The United States has urged the Iraqi government to speed up the reconciliation process amid Iraq's rising sectarian violence.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2007)