Obama speaks with president of South Africa

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with South African President Kgalema Motlanthe on Wednesday and discussed South Africa's role in helping to resolve the political crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Obama also emphasized the importance of South Africa's leadership role as a "strong and vibrant" democracy in Africa, the White House said.

A continuing impasse over whether Zimbabwe's rival political parties will form a unity government has embroiled the country in a prolonged and violent political crisis that has devastated the once-prosperous nation. Half the population of Zimbabwe, formerly a food exporter, faces starvation and a cholera epidemic caused by the collapse of water services has killed nearly 3,000 people.

Obama said he was looking forward to working with Motlanthe on global financial issues at an economic summit in London in early April.