Former Secretary of State and Treasury James Baker "had a good and constructive meeting" in Moscow December 18 on Iraqi debt with Russian President Vladimir Putin, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Baker met for 30 minutes in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Afterwards, Blair's spokesman said there is a growing consensus among Iraq's creditors for what he called a "substantial reduction" in Iraq's foreign debt.

Baker is President Bush's personal representative to find support for governments to reduce or forgive the debt owed to them by Iraq. Moscow was Baker's last stop this week on a trip that also took him to Paris, Berlin, and Rome.

Baker and Putin "discussed the need to reduce the crushing debt burden on the Iraqi people," McClellan said. "President Putin told Secretary Baker that Russia will work with us in a cooperative spirit of partnership and is prepared to join promptly in negotiations in the Paris Club in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible on debt relief for Iraq."

"Secretary Baker is pleased that the countries visited have agreed to work with us on an issue so important to the future of the Iraqi people. While this trip has been a good start, there is certainly more work to do. Secretary Baker will be continuing his efforts and visits to other capitals in the coming weeks."

BUSH VISITS WOUNDED TROOPS AT WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER

President Bush met December 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington with U.S. troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, his fourth such visit to the hospital, the White House said.

He also visited briefly in the hospital with Secretary of State Colin Powell, whom the president reported was "doing very well" following his December 15 surgery to remove a cancerous prostate gland.

Powell was released by the hospital to continue his recuperation at home shortly after the President stopped by.

While at Walter Reed, Bush, in remarks in the hospital auditorium, thanked medical workers and volunteers for giving the "best of care to the men and women who have been wounded in action. During a difficult time in their lives, they count on you. You give them the kind, professional care and decency and hope they deserve. And on behalf of America, I thank you for your service," Bush said.

"You're healing the defenders of our country. You're comforting the champions of freedom," he said.

Beverly Chidel, spokeswoman for Walter Reed told reporters that the hospital has treated 2,100 soldiers since military operations began in Iraq, about 350 of them with combat-related injuries. Currently, she said, there are 40 inpatients from the Iraqi front in the hospital there.

Also while at the hospital center, Bush underwent an orthopedic evaluation of his knees that included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and x-rays, the White House said.

Overseeing the exam were Bush's personal physician Dr. Richard Tubb, the president's sports medicine consultant Dr. Stephen Haas, and Walter Reed's chief orthopedist Dr. Kevin Murphy.

The physicians agreed following the examination that Bush does not need surgery on either knee.

The president and his physicians wanted to find the source of pain that has forced the president to cut back on his running workouts.

"The doctors recommend continued symptom-limited exercise, cross training, quadriceps strengthening, and stretching. Neither surgeon recommends surgery," the White House said in a medical statement released to the press following the examination.

The medical studies were made to evaluate the progression of "long-standing, intermittent, activity-related" pain at the front of his knee, the statement said.

White House Press Secretary McClellan told reporters that Bush's right knee has been bothering him when he runs, forcing the president to turn more to other activities for exercise.

McClellan said Bush works out regularly on an elliptical trainer, in a swimming pool, and by lifting weights and stretching.

The 57-year-old president was not sedated during the exam, McClellan said.