French President Jacques Chirac proposed forming a contact group on Afghanistan to ensure that a global strategy guides NATO action in the country, French presidential office said on Monday.

Chirac made the remarks during the telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush.

The two leaders also talked about the situation in the Middle East and "notably the Israeli-Palestinian situation and international action toward Lebanon," said the spokesman.

Bush left Washington on Monday for an international tour that first takes him to Estonia, Latvia and finally to Jordan, where he will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Source: Xinhua