US President Barack Obama spoke to the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan John R. Allen on the phone to discuss the ongoing violence in the country incited by the Quran burning by American troops. In his phone call to Allen, Obama discussed the killing of two US service members there on Saturday morning. "The president thanked General Allen for all of the measures he is taking to protect our service members and civilians in Afghanistan and to encourage calm," the White House said in a statement. "We welcome President Karzai's statement this morning encouraging peaceful expressions, and his call for dialogue and calm," the statement said, adding that Washington "remains committed to a partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan, as we work to realize our shared goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al-Qaida and strengthening the Afghan state."