Powell Phones Pakistan Leader for Cooperation

US Secretary of State Colin Powell talked by phone on Thursday with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to discuss possible cooperation in fight against terrorism, the State Department said.

"It was a positive conversation. They discussed the need for cooperation against terrorism and the secretary received from the Pakistani president a commitment to work with us as we go forward, " State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

Addressing a press conference here earlier Thursday, Powell said the U.S. first wanted help in gathering information about the attacks on New York and Washington on Tuesday because Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden, who is supposed to hide in Afghanistan, is a prime suspect.

Powell disclosed that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage held talks with Pakistani officials in Washington on Wednesday.






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