The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agency, Washington

US President George W Bush has said he and Barack Obama will discuss issues such as the global financial crisis and the war in Iraq "early next week".

In a speech at the White House, Bush congratulated the president-elect and said he would make every effort to ensure a smooth handover on 20 January.

The president-elect is due to hold his first news conference on Friday, after a meeting with his economic advisers.

Earlier, Obama was reported to have won North Carolina - which had not voted for a Democrat in more than a generation. The state's 15 electoral votes increase his total to 364. McCain has 162. Missouri is now the only state that remains too close to call.