Bush talks with Australia's Rudd about market crisis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush spoke with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd about the global financial crisis, the White House said on Friday as financial markets continued their dive.

"As part of his ongoing discussions with world leaders on the global financial situation, President Bush spoke with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this morning," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

Bush has spoken with numerous foreign leaders over the past several days to discuss the spiraling crisis and efforts to contain it, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)