Amman - The new US President Barak Obama on Wednesday called Jordan's King Abdullah II to discuss latest Middle East developments and bilateral relations, the royal court said.

"King Abdullah congratulated President Obama on the takeover of his responsibilities, telling him that he looked forward to working with him in addressing the region's issues," a court statement said.

The monarch stressed the need for resolving the Palestinian- Israeli conflict on the basis of the "two-state formula which provides the best way for achieving security and stability in the region," it added.

Abdullah also "underscored the importance of an early involvement by the US administration in serious and effective negotiations" that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as the earliest possible time, the statement said. (dpa)