U.S. President Barack Obama is spending his first full day in office addressing some of the toughest issues he faces - the Middle East, the U.S. financial crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The White House says the new president Wednesday called four leaders in the Middle East: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jordan's King Abdullah and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the calls were an opportunity for Mr. Obama to communicate his commitment to seeking Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term, and express his hope for their continued cooperation and leadership.
Later Wednesday, Mr. Obama meets with his economic advisers to discuss efforts to help the struggling economy. The president has supported a plan to stimulate the economy with an $800 billion plan aimed at saving or creating millions of jobs.
He then is to meet with top military officials to discuss the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr. Obama promised during the presidential campaign to withdraw troops from Iraq within 16 months. He also plans to carry out former President George Bush's plan to nearly double the troop presence in Afghanistan.
More than a million people turned out at the National Mall in Washington to witness Mr. Obama's inauguration Tuesday as the 44th president of the United States, and the nation's first African-American commander-in-chief.
The U.S. Senate continues its confirmation of Mr. Obama's Cabinet today, including a roll call vote scheduled for Secretary of State nominee Senator Hillary Clinton. Several other members of President Obama's Cabinet still must be confirmed, including Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner, who faced tough questioning Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee.
By VOA News
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