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Continues peace efforts, Bush tells Vajpayee, Musharraf
By Sridhar Krishnaswami
WASHINGTON, JAN. 13. The U.S. President, George W. Bush, today spoke to the leaders of India and Pakistan, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pervez Musharraf, urging them to continue the peace efforts. A White House spokesman said Mr. Bush thanked Gen. Musharraf for his pledge on Saturday to crack down on terror outfits; and the President discussed this speech with Mr. Vajpayee.
The conversations are said to have lasted for about five minutes each. The White House has not released details. ``Both South Asia leaders agreed to continue to work to reduce tension in the region'', the spokesman said.
He repeated what Mr. Bush thought of Gen. Musharraf's speech. The President, according to his spokesman, ``welcomes his(Gen. Musharraf's) firm decision to stand against terrorism in all its forms and applauded his vision for Pakistan''.
At least one senior lawmaker, Senator John McCain, Republican from Arizona, has taken the view that Gen. Musharraf's speech had ``improved'' the situation. ``Now he's got to back it up'', Mr.McCain has said.
Mr.Bush is sending his Secretary of State, Colin Powell, to South Asia early next week with a view to defusing the rising tensions in the subcontinent. Gen. Powell will also visit Afghanistan.
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