WASHINGTON: The White House says President Barack Obama has spoken with more than a dozen world leaders following his re-election and expressed his desire to continue to have close cooperation with them. Obama spoke on Thursday with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several other world leaders. The calls came in the aftermath of Obama's winning of a second term against Republican Mitt Romney.    

The White House says the president thanked them for their friendship and partnership and interest in maintaining close cooperation between the US and their country.

Obama also spoke with the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, France, India, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The president also spoke with Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.—AP