L-R: U.S. President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and president-elect Barack Obama stand outside the Diplomatic entrance of the White House in Washington. Obama, gearing up for his historic January 20 swearing-in, held his first face-to-face talks with Bush on Monday and got his first look at the Oval Office. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Aides of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama and President George W. Bush denied Tuesday there had been any bargaining on economic plans during the two people's Monday meeting at the White House.

    Earlier reports said there had been attempts during the meeting to link a federal bailout of the struggling auto industry or a second stimulus package to passage of a Colombia free trade deal.

President George W. Bush walks with President-elect Barack Obama at the White House in Washington Nov. 10, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Those two financial packages are favored by many Democrats, including Obama, while the free trade deal remains a top priority for the outgoing administration.

    "The president does support free trade, but did not suggest a quid pro quo (with Obama)," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

    "He did discuss the merits of free trade, but there was no linkage between Colombia free trade and a second stimulus package," she added.

    Obama's transition team also said there was no "wheeling or dealing" between Obama and Bush during their private Oval Office meeting.

    It said the president and the president-elect each listed his top priorities, but did not attempt to reach any agreements.

    Obama is not "under any great illusion" that Bush will support a second economic stimulus plan, said the team.

    The president-elect did, however, strongly urge Bush to support billions of dollars in aid for the struggling auto industry during the coming lame-duck session of Congress, according to three officials briefed on the meeting.

    The team said Bush expressed skepticism about giving taxpayer money to automakers on the heels of a string of government bailouts for other industries.

    In addition, it said, the president urged Obama to help push through the free trade pact with Colombia -- a key legacy item for the outgoing administration that is facing stiff resistance from Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Obama to reverse many of Bush's policies

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. president-elect Barack Obama could reverse some of president George W. Bush's controversial executive orders, including restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, a top Obama aide suggested Tuesday.

    Obama's transition team is reviewing hundreds of Bush's executive orders, John Podesta, Obama's transition co-chair, told reporters. Full story

Obama team declares restrictions on lobbyists

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's transition team announced Tuesday sweeping ethics rules for the interim period until his inauguration, putting restrictions on lobbyists.

    Pledging the transition to be "most open and transparent in history," John Podesta, co-chair of Obama transition team, detailed a ban on gifts and funds from lobbyists and a one-year time restriction between lobbying and working for the transition. Full story

Obama mulls new plan for Afghanistan war

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. president-elect Barack Obama is considering a more regional strategy for the war in Afghanistan, including possible talks with Iran, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

    He also looks favorably on dialogue between the Afghan government and elements of the Taliban, Obama's aides were quoted as saying. Full story

Obama, Bush hold transition talks at White House

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. president-elect Barack Obama and President George W. Bush discussed issues of presidential transition at the White House Monday.

    It is Obama's first time to the White House since he won last week's presidential election and it is also the first time he was in the Oval Office.  Full story

Obama looks to make impact quickly

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is examining ways to make a quick impact upon taking office, Obama's top aides said Monday.

    "I think it was very gracious of President George W. Bush to invite him so early, usually it happens a little later in the process," Valerie Jarrett, co-chair of Obama's transition team, was quoted by CNN as saying.

    "I think because of the daunting challenges that are facing our country, President Bush thought it was important to move forward quickly," she said.  Full story

Obama vows to address economic crisis after inauguration 

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama vowed to address economic crisis after inauguration on Friday at his first press conference after he won the presidential elections, with his economic advisors and chief of staff at presence.

    "Immediately after I become president I will confront this economic crisis head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hardworking families, and restore growth and prosperity," Obama said at the press conference in Chicago after meeting with 17-member economic advisory team.  Full story

Obama: Iran's development of nuclear weapon is unacceptable

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said in Chicago on Friday that Iran's development of nuclear weapon is unacceptable.

    Addressing his first press conference since Nov. 4 election, Obama also said that Iran must stop supporting "terrorist organizations." Full story