Bush, Putin agree on need to pressure Iran

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on the need to maintain unity in pressuring Iran to curtail its nuclear program, the White House said today.

Bush telephoned Putin on the same day Iran said it would not suspend uranium enrichment, as demanded by the West, but is still holding talks on its nuclear program, which the West suspects is a cover for making a nuclear bomb.

Russia, along with France and China, are among the major powers expressing wariness about a US-led push for UN sanctions on Iran if it continues to refuse to halt sensitive nuclear work in exchange for a package of incentives.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said time was limited for reaching a deal with Iran, which says it wants nuclear technology for civilian power generation.

Bush and Putin ''agreed on the need to maintain a united position in pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program,'' said White House spokesman Tony Snow.

He said the two leaders also discussed ''recent tensions in Russian-Georgian relations.'' Four Russian army officers arrested in Georgia for spying were allowed to fly home today as Tbilisi tried to defuse the worst crisis in years between the ex-Soviet neighbours.

But Moscow ignored international appeals for a similar goodwill gesture and announced it would cut air, sea and land links between the two countries, alleging unpaid debts and safety violations.

RIA-Novosti news agency reported Putin told Bush it was unacceptable for other countries to take steps Georgia could interpret as support for Tbilisi's ''destructive policies''.

Reuters SBA VP0055