By DPA
Washington : US President George W. Bush pledged support to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his new emergency government during a phone conversation Monday, the White House said.
The two leaders conferred a day before Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was to meet Bush in Washington for talks expected to focus on the turmoil in the Palestine.
Abbas described the steps of forming his Fatah-based emergency government and said, "he wanted to resume the political process", White House spokesman Tony Snow said. Bush "pledged help and support" during the 15-minute conversation, he said.
"You have to have a partner who's committed to peace and we believe that President Abbas is," Snow told reporters quoting Bush. "Therefore, we are committed to working with this emergency government."