Bush, Singh seek progress in WTO talks-White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush and India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday discussed the need for leading trading countries to contribute to a breakthrough in the Doha round of world trade talks, the White House said.

Talks in Geneva to salvage a global trade deal faced a crunch point on Thursday after three days of scant progress, with rich and poor countries remaining at loggerheads as to who must make the next move.

"The president and Prime Minister Singh ... discussed the importance of all leading WTO Members making contributions to a breakthrough that will put the Doha round negotiations on a path to conclude an ambitious agreement before the end of the year," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, summarizing a phone call between the two leaders.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick)