Bush, UN leader discuss Iraq in White House meeting

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lent support today to President George W Bush on Iraq, saying the violence there was a ''problem of the whole world.'' As Bush hosted Ban at the White House, the UN chief also welcomed the president's plan to hold a high-level meeting on the West Asia peace process in the autumn.

''As for the Iraqi situation, this is the problem of the whole world,'' Ban told reporters, promising UN help with rebuilding Iraq politically, economically and socially.

The show of support comes as Bush faces the US public's growing frustration with the Iraq war and rising pressure even from within his own Republican party for a US pullout.

The two discussed climate change, said Ban, who invited Bush to participate in a conference on the environment that he has called for September, on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly.

Climate change is a contentious issue in the Bush administration, which has fought mandatory caps on the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

Ban said he was encouraged by Bush's initiatives on climate change at last month's G8 summit, where world leaders agreed to pursue substantial cuts in greenhouse gases.

Reuters JK VP0318