Washington, Oct 5, SPA -- U.S. President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today discussed the situation in Iraq by telephone, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "The president told Prime Minister Berlusconi that we welcomed the release of the Italian hostages in Iraq," McClellan told reporters as Bush traveled to Iowa to campaign in the closely contested state ahead of the November 2 election.--SPA1101 Local Time 0801 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/208143