U.S. President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz on Friday discussed the conflict in Syria and the latest developments in Egypt.

The two leaders, in a phone talk, "shared their perspectives" on the situation in Syria and expressed their "strong concerns" about the impact of the conflict on the region, the White House said.

Obama stressed his administration's "continued commitment" to provide support to the Syrian Opposition Coalition and the Supreme Military Council, the White House said in a statement.

The president authorized last month the shipment of small arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels in a stepped-up effort to support the opposition, while Saudi Arabia has been an arms supplier to the rebels.

On the situation in Egypt, the two leaders agreed that their countries have a "shared interest" in supporting Egypt's stability.

"The president expressed his serious concern about the violence in Egypt and underscored the urgent need for an inclusive political process that will enable an early return to a democratically elected civilian government in Egypt," the statement said.

On July 3, the Egyptian military removed Mohamed Morsi, the country's first elected president, from power on the grounds that he had failed to rein in mass protests against his "poor performance" and "maladministration."

The Obama administration has not defined the move as a coup, enabling it to continue its 1.55 billion U.S. dollars annual aid to the most populous Arab nation.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday pledged 5 billion dollars in grants and loans to Egypt's interim government.

The U.S. State Department on Friday echoed an appeal made by the German Foreign Ministry for the release of Morsi, who has been detained in a "safe place" following his ouster. Endi

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