US President George W Bush has said he and Barack Obama will discuss issues such as the global financial crisis and the war in Iraq "early next week". 

In a speech at the White House, Mr Bush congratulated the president-elect and said he would make every effort to ensure a smooth handover on 20 January. 

Mr Obama was elected the first black US president on Tuesday with a resounding win over Republican rival John McCain. 

Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel has accepted the post of Mr Obama's chief-of-staff. 

The Illinois congressman, who was once an adviser to President Bill Clinton, will be responsible for much of the internal management of the new administration. 

Mr Emanuel is a tough Washington insider who has been strongly criticised by some Republicans for being too partisan, says the BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington. 

According to ABC News network, Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod has also accepted the job of senior White House adviser - a post previously held by Karl Rove and Dan Bartlett under Mr Bush. 

Obama & Bush To Meet Next Week