U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SPOKE WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ON MONDAY AS THE UNITED STATES TRIES TO CONVINCE RUSSIA AND CHINA THAT THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL MUST TAKE TOUGHER ACTION TO CURB IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, REUTERS REPORTED. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SCOTT MCCLELLAN DECLINED TO GIVE DETAILS OF THE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, BUT SAID: "THE TWO LEADERS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING IRAN FROM OBTAINING NUCLEAR WEAPONS." HE SAID THEY AGREED TO REMAIN "IN CLOSE CONTACT ON THIS IMPORTANT PRIORITY."
