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Obama, Duterte Talk Days After Crude Comments

by VOA News

   A White House official said President Barack Obama had a brief
   conversation with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Wednesday night,
   two days after Duterte called Obama a "son of a bitch."

   Their interaction took place at an Association of Southeast Asian
   Nations dinner in Laos. The official said it consisted of pleasantries
   between Obama and Duterte.

   The two presidents were due to have met Tuesday, but the White House
   canceled it in light of Duterte's comments, which came as part of a
   warning to Obama to not lecture him about a crackdown on drug
   traffickers that has left 2,000 people dead since June.

   Duterte later expressed regrets about his words. White House spokesman
   Josh Earnest said the only concern the U.S. has with Duterte is
   ensuring there is a commitment to due process, and that the overall
   relationship between the two nations remains solid.