Obama discusses Syria, Libya with EU leaders ahead of G8

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone on Friday evening with British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of next week's G-8 Summit in Northern Ireland, hosted by Cameron, the White House announced here Saturday. The White House said in a statement that the five leaders discussed Syria, including "the regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people, and ways to support a political transition to end the conflict." They also discussed Libya, "our collective efforts to support Prime Minister (Ali) Zeidan, and the Libyan government's work to enhance security and advance the political transition." Obama noted "how much he is looking forward to his first trip to Europe during his second term, which will include addressing youth in Belfast, Northern Ireland; attending the G-8; and making an official visit to Berlin at the invitation of Chancellor Merkel," the statement noted.